To Hell and Back cover art

To Hell and Back

Europe, 1914-1949

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To Hell and Back

By: Ian Kershaw
Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
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About this listen

In the summer of 1914, most of Europe plunged into a war so catastrophic that it unhinged the continent's politics and beliefs in a way that took generations to recover from.

The disaster terrified its survivors, shocked that a civilization that had blandly assumed itself to be a model for the rest of the world had collapsed into a chaotic savagery beyond any comparison.

In 1939, Europeans would initiate a second conflict that managed to be even worse - a war in which the killing of civilians was central and which culminated in the Holocaust.

To Hell and Back tells this story with humanity, flair and originality. Kershaw gives a compelling narrative of events, but he also wrestles with the most difficult issues that the events raise - with what it meant for the Europeans who initiated and lived through such fearful times - and what this means for us.

©2015 Ian Kershaw (P)2015 Audible, Ltd 20th Century Europe Military Modern War Interwar Period Russia Socialism Imperialism Soviet Union Holocaust Refugee Middle Ages Winston Churchill Royalty Latin American Self-Determination Africa Capitalism

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All stars
Most relevant
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it was extremely informative and gave a really good background to what was happening around Europe throughout this period, rather than the more common English focus of many history books. It was the first time on finishing an audiobook I immediately started it again, as there was so much really good information in it, i wanted to reread it to help reinforce what I had learnt from reading it. Well worth a read.

Excellent

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Very well written book. very informative. Made me appreciate the Europe we live in now.

Excellent European history book. I

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I’ve listened to a lot of History audiobooks over the last few years. This is up there as one of the more relevant and captivating. Ian Kershaw’s ‘To Hell and Back’ is the part 1 of a duology chronicling European History throughout the 20th century. A well-trodden subject, but this book explores the strands of folly and fanaticism in very well-measured breadth and depth.

Of course, the ‘big players’ of Germany, the UK, France, the Soviet Union and the USA (etc.) heavily feature. But I greatly appreciate the way Kershaw whisks you around the continent exploring how political trends and world events impact smaller countries. All while constructing an overarching narrative that is simultaneously engaging and provides a fantastic base for understanding the psyche of European societies, competing visions of civilisation, and the development of the modern world.

I’m looking forward to listening to Part 2...

A superbly constructed History of Europe in the early 20th Century

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Why would the narrator use foreign accents when quoting non-English speaking persons? It ruined the book a bit for me, it felt very outdated and in poor taste.

Good but bad taste in narration

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The book is fantastic, the narrator is great, but he’s emulation of Central- Eastern European accents could be more nuanced, as it stands they all sound Russian.

Superb book!

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