Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Jerusalem
- The Biography – A History of the Middle East
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 25 hrs and 30 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Jerusalem
Buy Now for £16.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Jerusalem is the universal city, the capital of two peoples, the shrine of three faiths; it is the prize of empires, the site of Judgement Day, and the battlefield of today's clash of civilizations. From King David to Barack Obama, from the birth of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to the Israel-Palestine conflict, this is the epic history of 3,000 years of faith, slaughter, fanaticism, and coexistence.
How did this small, remote town become the Holy City, the 'centre of the world' and now the key to peace in the Middle East? In a gripping narrative, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals this ever-changing city in its many incarnations, bringing every epoch and character blazingly to life. Jerusalem's biography is told through the wars, love affairs, and revelations of the men and women - kings, empresses, prophets, poets, saints, conquerors, and whores - who created, destroyed, chronicled and believed in Jerusalem.
Drawing on new archives, current scholarship, his own family papers, and a lifetime's study, Montefiore illuminates the essence of sanctity and mysticism, identity, and empire in a unique chronicle of the city that many believe will be the setting for the Apocalypse. This is how Jerusalem became Jerusalem, and the only city that exists twice - in heaven and on Earth. Read by John Lee.
More from the same
What listeners say about Jerusalem
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ed Seyfried
- 05-02-24
Just get it now!
All credit look it’s just great get it and stop forcing me to write more words I want to start Stalin
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sean
- 18-02-19
This book
Is brilliant, full of lots of info, Jerusalem is a crazy place, so much death and blood for the love of the same god, am gonna listen to this book again,, today..
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- KevorkO
- 10-03-23
Jerusalem in the palm of your hand
A vivid tour de force condensing millennia of history into page upon page of the most vivid storytelling.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dave
- 18-09-20
Historical Epic
An extremely well researched and written book about the most complicated and interesting of cities.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 16-12-14
Interesting but ultimately too long
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
There was a lot in this book that was interesting and informative but it somehow couldn't hold my attention for long periods of time. In small chunks I found it worthwhile and I never felt like giving up on it but often took a break from it. As a result, it took me a lot longer than usual to get through it.
Would you recommend Jerusalem to your friends? Why or why not?
Probably not. I might suggest it to a friend who had an interest in the subject but I don't think it would inspire anyone if the interest wasn't already there.
What about John Lee’s performance did you like?
I had no problem with John Lee's narration It suited the subject.
Did Jerusalem inspire you to do anything?
No.
Any additional comments?
I started off being very interested but as the book went on, each episode seemed to be dealt with in the same way and at a similar pace. It is a long book and my interest steadily waned. I always listen to unabridged versions but perhaps, in this case, I would have been better making an exception.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Raal Harris
- 05-09-15
Vitally important book
If you have any desire to understand the current situation in the Middle East this is a great place to start. Seeing how the region has changed over the centuries helps to tie together very complex strands that are otherwise impossible to appreciate. This is a work of incredible breadth, staggering research and yet retains charm by way of delightful excursions and meanders. There are so many great characters brought to life that will provide you with the impetus for further research. 25 hours well spent!
A note on the voice, I wasn't that happy with it from the sample but it grows on you and he does a great job.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Survivor
- 06-04-22
Almost ruined by terrible narration.
A great book almost ruined by weird narration. The narrator sounds oddly computer generated (perhaps he is), a bad let down for what is certainly a good book, it makes it quite tough to listen too.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bobbie
- 31-01-18
Jesusalem
A well written, read and invaluable history.
A story that unwittingly is enacted not only within those city walls but with implications, tensions that reverberate though our lives so far away.
The meaning of the history is emotional and terrifyingly put. Great book. Should be part of all educational curriculum.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shai Heijmans
- 09-03-21
Informative, balanced, well written
Excellent writing and very impressive narration, despite the narrator's meticulous effort to mispronounce most Jewish (and some Arab) names.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Goronwy-Wyn
- 16-09-19
A fascinating work.
A thorough review of the evolution of the middle east as encapsulated in the Israel v Arab world.
Thought provoking.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!