Jerusalem

The Biography

By: Simon Sebag Montefiore

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 25 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's 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 three thousand years of faith, slaughter, fanaticism and coexistence.

How did this small, remote town become the Holy City, the “center 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. As well as the many ordinary Jerusalemites who have left their mark on the city, its cast varies from Solomon, Saladin and Suleiman the Magnificent to Cleopatra, Caligula and Churchill; from Abraham to Jesus and Muhammad; from the ancient world of Jezebel, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod and Nero to the modern times of the Kaiser, Disraeli, Mark Twain, Lincoln, Rasputin, Lawrence of Arabia and Moshe Dayan.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2011 Simon Sebag Montefiore (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Magnificent . . . The city’s first ‘biography’ - a panoptic narrative of its rulers and citizens, heroes and villains, harlots and saints . . . Montefiore barely misses a trick or a character in taking us through the city’s story with compelling, breathless tension.” (Norman Lebrecht, Wall Street Journal)

“Impossible to put down . . . A vastly enjoyable chronicle [with] many fascinating asides . . . Montefiore has a fine eye for the telling detail, and also a powerful feel for a good story.” (Jonathan Rosen, New York Times Book Review)

“Magisterial . . . As a writer, Montefiore has an elegant turn of phrase and an unerring ear for the anecdote that will cut to the heart of a story . . . It is this kind of detail that makes Jerusalem a particular joy to read.” (The Economist)

Splendid

A journey in time to marvel at the complex history of the world’s most fascinating city. The ancient/biblical and late modern (18-20th centuries) periods covered are especially interesting. Montefiore is a masterful storyteller.

Fabulous

Love this author. Every bit of the history so well put together. Learned vast amount of things I never knew. Narrator excellent.

WOW!

So much information that I struggled to take it all in...not the kinda of fluff book easily read and easily forgotten. It look me a months to complete. But in the end, I am grateful for the effort. Grateful to the author, narrator, everyone involved who had any part in producing this masterpiece. I am especially grateful I took the time to be informed. thank you!

excellence

This is a wonderfully detailed and comprehensive history. The reading was fantastic and never dull. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the subject.

Dense, informative book requiring lots of patience

A really dense book that requires completely undivided attention and a very long attention span. Cool information that needs to be digested in small sections.

Insights into a ckmplex place

A good companion for a visit to Jerusalem. Keeping track of the actors is challenging at times. Puts contemporary events into perspective.

reader has an accent, hard to understand at times

What made the experience of listening to Jerusalem the most enjoyable?

Exvellent rendition of history of Jerusalem

What did you like best about this story?

Excellent research of the subject

Would you listen to another book narrated by John Lee?

Not unless I had to

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Any additional comments?

Excellent book

Mesmerizing harrowing 3000 history

Filled with conflict, and fascinating personalities. My view of Jerusalem has been changed and deepened. Not for the faint hearted but definitely a recommended listen.

Most interesting

everything was thoroughly researched and complete. narration was great. Kept my attention the whole time.

Jerusalem.. where good and evil meets!!

Learning about Jerusalem is learning about civilization , it is about learning the histo6of a lot of today's conflicts and understanding their origins.
the narrator was truly a genius on reading this book and kept me on the edge of wherever I was at the moment of listening his voice ! Simon Seibag Montefiore... ONE OF A KIND ! THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR RESEARCH AND BRINGING THE MOS MEMORABLE AND IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THIS HEAVENLY AND REAL LIFE CITY!! IN OTHER WORDS THIS BOOK HAS TO BE IN EVERY SINGLE BOOK SHELVES! CHRISTIAN, JEW, CATHOLICS, MUSLIMS, ISLAMISTS, ATHEISTS, AGNOSTICS, BELIEVERS AND NON BELIEVERS WILL GAIN A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE BY READI G THIS PHENOMENAL BOOK! :)