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Titans of History

The Giants Who Made Our World

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Titans of History

By: Simon Sebag Montefiore
Narrated by: Steve West
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About this listen

 NEW EDITION - FEATURING UPDATED INTRODUCTION AND NEW CHAPTERS

The giant characters of history - from Mozart to Michelangelo, Shakespeare to Einstein, Henry VIII to Hitler, Catherine the Great to Margaret Thatcher, Jesus Christ to Genghis Khan ­- lived lives of astonishing drama and adventure, debauchery and slaughter, but they also formed our world and will shape our future. In this eclectic and surprising collection of short and entertaining life stories, Simon Sebag Montefiore introduces his choice of kings, empresses, sultans and conquerors, as well as prophets, explorers, artists, actresses, courtesans and psychopaths. From the ancient times, via crusades and world wars, up to the 21st century, this accessible history introduces readers to the titans who changed the world: the characters we should all know, and the stories we should never forget.

(p) Penguin Random House US 2017©2017 Simon Sebag Montefiore Historical Middle Ages War Imperialism Royalty Russia Ancient History Military French Revolution Soviet Union Iran Socialism Ottoman Empire Winston Churchill Latin American Africa Middle East Imperial Japan British Empire Self-Determination Ancient Greece Crusade Interwar Period

Critic reviews

Simon Sebag Montefiore is a master storyteller
Sparkling biographical essays ... A tour of the good, the bad and the ugly
Entertaining and informative. Full of offbeat, fascinating detail
Comprehensive, chilling and highly compelling. A first-class chronologically arranged catalogue that enagages as it teaches
Compulsive reading ... We do not shudder at the depths to which men and women throughout history have sunk, but experience a piquant relish ... a book that reminds us how thin the veneer of civilisation is
A survey of great historical figures favours villainy over goodness ... A compilation of short biographical profiles ... catering to our appalled fascination with evil. Monsters outnumber heroes. Stalin, the subject of Montefiore's superb two-volume biography, is the prototype for many of the maniacal autocrats whose rages and rampages are described here. A strutting parade of psychopathic dictators, warlords, malevolent dwarves ... Montefiore finds room for a few gods, one or two secular saints, American founding fathers, Lincoln and Churchill, and a smattering artists and scientists, but their achievements hardly manage to maintain the pretence of civilisation. What excites Montefiore is villainy ... and he does this with wicked verve
All stars
Most relevant
Disappointed. Too general a history from a eminent author and no overall analysis of the 'great man theory ' of history. Not seen together. I would recommend to a teenager as a primer though.

Disappointed. too general.

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While his knowledge of early history is very concise Simon Montefiore shows a remarkable inability to transfer those skills to more modern subjects. He totally misunderstood George Orwell’s feeling towards socialism and repeats the right wing misunderstanding about his most famous novel 1984 (I suggest Lynskey’s: Ministry if Truth which who would do well to have read). He also has a chapter on a character from fiction falling for the propaganda about his actions. It is an interesting book but you need to be aware of Montefiore’s right wing views.

Disappointed towards the end.

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An interesting collection of people most of which I knew about. There were several facts I learnt and the narration was well done.

A parade of important people from the past to the present

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I was so looking forward to hearing this book but the narration is so flat it put me off buying the Romanovs, also narrated by the author. It's like listening to someone reading from Wikipedia whist they are very tired; some of the characters are that brief; it's a chore not a pleasure. As a physical book it is probably much better.

Like listening to wikipedia

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Fabulous concept from a marvellous author, let down by probably the most awful narration i have yet heard on Audible.

Awful narration!

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