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)

A must to understand european politics of today

Outside of the superb main line, Cultural references (to movies, theatre, etc) often made the periods more relatable

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!

Mesmerizing reading of a beautifully written book

I have both the print and the audio editions of this book. I have abandoned the print version, which is a terrifically well-written book, because Ralph Cosham's narration takes the book to a whole other level. Judt's book is an intellectual and literary delight, but Cosham's narration transforms the book almost into opera. His voice is melodious and his delivery creates a drama out of history.

Simply incredible

This should be required reading for everyone. The breadth and scope of this work is astounding. There is so much that happened during this period that I was unaware of, and the author's ability to capture it in a succinct way is second to none. Highly recommend.

Comprehensive

Excellent and very comprehensive. A must listen, shall we not forget the past.

If we do, we are bound to repeat.

Great

One of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time. Great survey of modern Europe.