A Native’s Return: 1945-1988

By: William L. Shirer

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 21 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

The prominent journalist, historian, and author - an eyewitness to some of the most pivotal events of the 20th century - tells the story of his final years.

In this last book of a three-volume series, William L. Shirer recounts his return to Berlin after the Third Reich’s defeat. Having fled Berlin and imminent arrest by the Gestapo in 1940, Shirer returned to Europe in October 1945 to verify the facts of the Fuhrer’s death, thus bringing to a close - or so he thought - his involvement with the Third Reich.

He describes his return to his homeland and his ensuing careers as a broadcast journalist and author. He describes the McCarthy years and how the blacklist affected his own network, CBS.

More personal than the first two volumes, this final installment takes an unflinching look at the author’s own struggles after World War II, his shocking firing by CBS News, and his final visit to Paris 60 years after he first lived there as a cub reporter in the 1920s. Here is also his vindication after the publication of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, his most acclaimed work. It also provides intimate details of his often-troubled marriage, and it paints a bittersweet picture of his final decades, friends lost to old age, and a changing world.

This book gives listeners a surprising and moving account of the last years of a true historian - and an important witness to history.

©1990 William L. Shirer (P)2019 Blackstone Audio

Like hearing an old friend tell hisife story

I absolutely loved this book, the last of the set of 3 autobiographical books of William Shirer. The narration is perfect. Highly recommended. It reminds me so much of sitting and listening to my very intelligent father in law tell of events in his life.

An old friend speaks

I know at times he comes across bitter and one that holds a grudge. But this book is about him and his feelings not about trying to impress the reader/listener with how forgiving or magnanimous he is. He is giving you his true feelings and observations as he saw it.
Do I like the way he portrayed Ragan and others that we on the right hold dear? No, but this book isn't written to please or pander. It is how he saw and understood the events of the time and the people that made or reacted to them.
Like Alan Morehead his personal observations because of being there are priceless.

Less than more

But if you start this adventure you should see it thru. Maybe be this story could’ve been told in two volumes but Grover Gardner makes anything interesting. The thing with Shirer is that he gives a real and personal overview of the years 30-50 and I think needs to be read/listened to just to get a foundation before the fake revisionist histories supplant the truth of what happened in these times.

Great Book - Wonderful Narration

The trilogy of Mr. Shirer's life is a listen well worth the time. Grover Gardner's reading of these books is wonderful (he could read a phone book and it would be interesting to listen to). The criticism that I have of Shirer is the fact that he constantly feels the need to correct ANYONE who disagrees with him. If you agree with him, he loves you, if you disagree with him, he trashes you. I totally understand why CBS fired him in the late 1940's. Shirer is self centered, belligerent, and egotistical to an extreme. He is also a philanderer. I enjoy his writing, but he was an awful human being.

A 75 Year Introspection

Shirer does a good job of expressing g himself and the circumstances he observes. This the last Shirer audio book there is to listen too, of course read by Grover Gardener (who’s superb). I was crapped out at the end knowing I’ve listened to them all but like his other stories I learned a ton - that’s the safest part - what do I listen to now? Never thought I’d feel sad about finishing but indeed I am.

A good end to the memoir trilogy

While I found this third installment less compelling than the first two volumes, I still enjoyed it. Shirer is an excellent writer. This book mostly involves the process of writing and subsequent reviews after publication of Shirer's famous books about the Third Reich and France, his McCarthy era persecution and his affairs with other women. Grover Gardner's narration is quite excellent as always.

not similar to his other works

I am a big fan of William Shirer, however, this book made me slightly less of a fan. It certainly is an honest telling of his thoughts and actions, but sometimes the honesty was either not worth needing a mention, or simply not objective. Overall not wildly exciting or much new that I cared to know about the man.

Third Volume of Witness to History Disappoints

Let me start by expressing my exuberance for Shirer's first two autobiographical volumes. Having admired his work over the years I enjoyed his telling of his own personal journey through life. The first two volumes were well written and offered a focus that keeps the reader engaged as to both Shirer's life and the events he witnessed.

Unfortunately, that does not carry over into this third volume. Had he cut this volume in half, the book would have been an enjoyable read. But there was way too much filler, fluff and commentary on issues of the day that turned his autobiography into a series of drawn out opinion pieces that remind the listener that Shirer wrote this well into his cantankerous 80's. That may seem a bit harsh but I cannot come up with a better way to describe how disconnected these monologues were with his actual personal story.

All that being said, the three volume set is still worth reading. It just should not come as a surprise if your find yourself 15 hours into this volume wondering if you should just move on to your next audio book.

Grover Gardner's narration is always five stars. He could read a phone book and I would download it to listen to during my nightmarish Los Angeles commute.