Appeasement

Chamberlain, Hitler, Churchill, and the Road to War

By: Tim Bouverie

Narrated by: John Sessions

Length: 22 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times Editors’ Choice • Sunday Times (UK) best seller

A gripping new history of the British appeasement of Hitler on the eve of World War II

On a wet afternoon in September 1938, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain stepped off an airplane and announced that his visit to Hitler had averted the greatest crisis in recent memory. It was, he later assured the crowd in Downing Street, "peace for our time." Less than a year later, Germany invaded Poland and the Second World War began.

Appeasement is a groundbreaking history of the disastrous years of indecision, failed diplomacy, and parliamentary infighting that enabled Hitler's domination of Europe. Drawing on deep archival research and sources not previously seen by historians, Tim Bouverie has created an unforgettable portrait of the ministers, aristocrats, and amateur diplomats who, through their actions and inaction, shaped their country's policy and determined the fate of Europe.

Beginning with the advent of Hitler in 1933, we embark on a fascinating journey from the early days of the Third Reich to the beaches of Dunkirk. Bouverie takes us not only into the backrooms of Parliament and 10 Downing Street but also into the drawing rooms and dining clubs of fading imperial Britain, where Hitler enjoyed surprising support among the ruling class and even some members of the royal family.

Both sweeping and intimate, Appeasement is not only an eye-opening history but a timeless lesson on the challenges of standing up to aggression and authoritarianism - and the calamity that results from failing to do so.

“An eye-opening narrative that makes for exciting but at times uncomfortable reading as one reflects on possible lessons for the present.” (Antonia Fraser, author of Mary Queen of Scots)

©2019 Tim Bouverie (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“It is refreshing that Tim Bouverie, a bright young British historian, should devote his debut book to debunking many of the pro-appeasement myths and reminding us that, in fact, it should be the anti-appeaser Winston Churchill who deserves the laurels.... Mr. Bouverie has been diligent in researching the sources and has an eye for the telling anecdote and aperçu.... The appeasement story and its lessons are ones for the ages.” (Andrew Roberts, The Wall Street Journal)

“Comprehensive and immersive.... This is well-paced narrative history: intelligent, lucid, riveting - even while possessing the terrible knowledge of what happened next.” (Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times)

"An astonishingly accomplished debut. Bouverie writes with a wonderful clarity and we will no doubt hear a lot more of his voice in the future." (Antony Beevor, author of Stalingrad)

Narration not as bad as some reviewers say

The narration isn’t great, but it isn’t so bad as to pass on this excellent audiobook.

Detailed and informative account of run up to WWII

Very well written and researched, this terrific narrative history provided me a much clearer understanding of what appeasement meant at the time and why that was (at the beginning at least, but excluding Churchill) the predominant thinking in Britain and other nations. It wasn't only Chamberlain by far. Although the narration is somewhat controversial, once I got used to his style, I was quite riveted to the story telling - normally I only listen to audio books during commutes, but I often continued listening long after reaching my destination (i.e. can't put the book down). Yes, the narration gets slightly over the top on occasion (so 4 stars for him), but he truly grabs my attention and does a reasonable job of impersonating historical characters such as Churchill and Roosevelt. Much prefer his style to the monotone recitals of many other narrators. Guess it's a matter of taste.

"What we don't learn we'll be doomed to repeat"

This book brought the Fifteen song "Over and Over" to mind, especially the lyric in the headline...

"Appeasement" is a necessary read for anyone interested in politics, history, and the rise of nefarious charlatans that con entire countries into following destructive creeds that lead to generational coda. It is necessary for humanity to stop wasting lives, treasure, aspirations and possible innovations over the selfish urges of a few autocrats and despots.

We are witnessing the rise of neo-fascism and implementation of cronyism and kleptocracy hidden under the guise of popularism, and this book showcases how we have been here before, leading to the bloodiest conflict in human history.

Read this book and remain vigilant.

One of the best narrations I've ever heard!

As a longtime listener to audiobooks, I REGARD JOHN SESSIONS' PERFORMANCE A TRIUMPH! I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks (over 800), and this goes in my top twenty five. Sessons should be nomimated for, and win, an Audie Award.

The Authoritative Book on Appeasement

The audiobook is worth purchasing for the narration alone. An excellent performance backed by excellent scholarship.

I love Audible books when they are audible.

Tim Bouverie wrote an excellent book. It is well written and covers the topic with specifics and insight. In fact, if it weren't an outstanding book, I would have bailed because the narration is so frustrating. The reader is annoyingly dramatic, but the real problem is that the reader's voice swings between a shout and a murmur. I find myself having to hit the replay button when the narration goes to an imperceptible sotto voce whisper. I love Audible books but not when they are inaudible.

So Much History

This book describes the failure of powerful people to check Hitler by failing to enforce the Treaty of Versailles and allowing Hitler to violate the treaty with out consequences inch by inch. Amazing how people placed in a position of public trust seem to be more concerned about their legacies rather than the well being of the citizens of their country. Also interesting how the failure of of a country’s leadership to keep their country militarily strong played in to the lack of the ability to make strong decisions to thwart the inevitable war.

Fascinating and mind boggling....

Can't agree with those who did not like the narrator. He spoke clearly, precisely and not so fast you lost what he was saying. Better than many monotone, or worse, nasal or or High pitched readings of some audio books I have tried to listen to. But as someone said, I guess it is a matter of taste.

Prelude to Tragedy

The naivete of British leadership in the 1930s is the theme of “Appeasement,” a suspenseful and compelling history of the failure to confront fascist dictatorships prior to World War II.

Tim Bouverie has written a detailed history of the increasingly unsupportable efforts of the British government to prevent war by allowing Hitler to acquire more and more territory in central Europe. While the British people seem to have supported appeasement initially by a wide margin, public support waned quickly as Germany became more aggressive and the promises of its leadership were more obviously exposed as lies. But the government of Neville Chamberlain continued to want to believe in a peace with Germany right until the outbreak of war in 1939.

Chamberlain cannot be called a villain, because his heart was in the right place. But he comes across as a fussy old fool as he rationalizes the Anschluss with Austria and the invasion of Czechoslovakia. Repeatedly, British diplomats want to believe in Hitler’s promises, and they are repeatedly betrayed. Only a small group around Winston Churchill has the sense to recognize the dangers of appeasement, and they are marginalized by the leaders of their own Tory party.

We know, sadly, how the tale will end. Years of murder, hatred and destruction. But Bouverie manages to make this tragic history suspenseful and fascinating. One wants to shout at the British cabinet to react, to stop appeasing the growing aggression of Germany under Hitler.

The narrator adds to the drama and suspense. While John Sessions uses a lot of histrionics as he reads, that helps hold the reader’s attention as the author details political maneuvering and the ongoing Cabinet and Parliamentary debates. Overall, an educational and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Narrator is fine

Yes, it’s a theatrical performance—thank God. Sessions knows how to give life to the people and the prose, sometimes to appropriately dark comic effect. He knows what he’s doing.