Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945

By: Tony Judt

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 43 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize • Winner of the Council on Foreign Relations Arthur Ross Book Award • One of the New York Times’ Ten Best Books of the Year

“Impressive . . . Mr. Judt writes with enormous authority.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Magisterial . . . It is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive, authoritative, and yes, readable postwar history.” —The Boston Globe

Almost a decade in the making, this much-anticipated grand history of postwar Europe from one of the world’s most esteemed historians and intellectuals is a singular achievement. Postwar is the first modern history that covers all of Europe, both east and west, drawing on research in six languages to sweep listeners through thirty-four nations and sixty years of political and cultural change—all in one integrated, enthralling narrative. The book incorporates international relations, domestic politics, ideas, social change, economic development, and culture—high and low. Every country has its chance to play the lead, and although the big themes are superbly handled—including the cold war, the love/hate relationship with America, cultural and economic malaise and rebirth, and the myth and reality of unification—none of them is allowed to overshadow the rich pageant that is the whole. Vividly and clearly written for the general listener, witty, opinionated, and full of fresh and surprising stories and asides, Postwar is a movable feast for lovers of history and lovers of Europe alike.

Both intellectually ambitious and compelling, thrilling in its scope and delightful in its small details, Postwar is a rare joy.

©2005 Tony Judt (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A book that has the pace of a thriller and the scope of an encyclopedia…A very considerable achievement…Brilliant." ( New York Review of Books)

“Remarkable…. The writing is vivid; the coverage—of little countries as well as of great ones—is virtually superhuman.” ( The New Yorker)

“Massive, kaleidoscopic, and thoroughly readable…[Judt’s] book now becomes the definitive account of Europe’s rise from the ashes and its takeoff into an uncertain future.” ( Time)

Excellent Historical Overview

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I strongly recommend for perspective on European attitudes and relations with USA today.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945?

Description of the fall of communism after 1989.

Which character – as performed by Ralph Cosham – was your favorite?

N/A

Any additional comments?

This book covers a lot of ground, for a lot of countries, but does an adequate job of giving at once the general historical and cultural trends, and enough detail of the personalities and events that shaped the era. The book stops around 2005, however, before the current economic difficulties. This would be an entire new chapter because as of 2005 Europe was in the ascendency, optimistic and successful. What a difference 5 years can make. As we leave the narrative, Europe is more anti-American, richer and confident that it is now. I urge Mr. Judt to update his book with a sequal or second edition to cover more recent events.

A True Masterpiece

This is a masterpiece of a book. Judt synthesizes history, philosophy, sociology, film, art, social memory theory, linguistics, political philosophy, and religion into one tour deforce on Europe after WWII. The astonishing fact is that he is at home in each of these fields. He gives off the air of a master-teacher who provides only the information that is necessary to further understanding yet withholds so much more.

This is one of those books that, although you "finished" it, the amount of information left to be absorbed is far greater. I listened to this as an audiobook, so my absorption was less than it would have been had I visually read it. But the audio experience was sufficient to communicate that the book is truly a masterpiece.

I will definitely be reading this again one day.

Eye Opener

So much can be learned from this book and don't know where to start but will listen to this book more than twice just to grasp everything that it has to offer. Tony Judt provide critical information on what composes the modern political theater, human suffrages and the difficulties and realities of the choices made over the last century. Ralph Cosham provides an appropriate and intellectual delivery. Main stream focus in the US is always on WWII but this blows the lid off common American perception and so much more.

A Comprehensive History

It was much more than I was expecting. This is a comprehensive political, economic, social and military history covering, in great detail, the period from the last day of the war to the present day. This was very rewarding. I always wanted this book but didn’t know it existed.

Every North American should read this book

Rare is the history book that can put all the pieces together for such a complex and diverse period and place, but this book does and does it very well. I will not complain about its length, as some reviewers have. It held my attention very well and I was actually sorry when it was over because I wanted to keep hearing the author account for the years since its publication. I also thought the narrator’s tone and style were perfect for the job of telling history. His handling of words in many languages was excellent. Now that my circumstances have me traveling to Europe more frequently than I ever did before, I have really appreciated the new insights I gained from the book.

Yes it's long???deal with it.

Postwar brilliantly and effectively traces how Europe rose from the rubble and death of WWII to become an imperfect but well-functioning community today. The tone is hard-nosed but surprisingly positive and optimistic. Judt had a reputation for a left-wing viewpoint, but in this book he does not have any ax to grind. He is, however, especially hard on nations (especially France) that weaseled their way out of responsibility for the Holocaust.

Narrator Ralph Cosham is terrific, despite an overuse of a pause-and-raised-eyebrows intonation for Judt's numerous 'scare' quotes.

Marvelous, fascinating, lucid, rich .

Would you listen to Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 again? Why?

This irreplaceable book examines the last seventy years of European history with sharp insight and complete mastery. Judt is a vivid in detail as he is perceptive in his analyses of this fascinating but incredibly complex period--the period that created our present world. If you want to know how the present came about, read it.

Impossible to see the wood for the trees

Where does Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Tedious enumeration of too many unnecessary facts and sentences full of subclauses reiterating the obvious, makes this very tiresome listening. It is impossible to get an overview, and the text is also rather devoid of interesting insights . ( In other words, a typical example of the unfortunate style of history writing so often emanating from the tutorial system at Oxbridge.) Would suggest pretty much any American account of the same period, eg Lewis Gaddis.

The reading is uninspiring and monotone.

It changes your perspective on 20th century Europe

I thought I knew European history reasonably well. Having finished the late Tony Judy's Postwar, I now know how little I knew, and how shallow my understanding was. An amazing book that is more important than ever as the darkness closes in on the world.

Comprihensive and interesting

For anybody that wants to understand Europe, the political and the social conditions in the continent as a whole and in the different countries - this is a great read!
Well written, comprehensive description of the postwar decades throughout west and east Europe.
I found the last parts on east Europe are especially fascinating!