The Modern Scholar

Six Months That Changed the World: The Paris Peace Conference of 1919

By: Dr. Margaret MacMillan

Narrated by: Dr. Margaret MacMillan

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

The world will never see another peace conference like the one which took place in Paris in 1919. For six months, the world's major leaders - including Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States, David Lloyd George, prime minister of Great Britain, and Georges Clemenceau, prime minister of France - met to discuss the peace settlements which were to end World War One.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2003 Margaret MacMillan (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

the peace that continues to fuel our problems

The format is excellent with the author reading the lectures, the author's voice gives extra intonation and feeling. The questions at the end of every lecture were rather jarring and did not seem genuine. The recording opened my eyes to the ill conceived and ingrained thought that this was just a peace with Germany.
The defining of many new countries,altering borders and ethnic make up without the opinions of the inhabitants, in many cases, produced a festering cancer for which we are paying the price today.
The problems in the Middle East are mainly based on these neatly ruled lines for boundaries. I had never thought or realised that when it was time for Germany to sign the treaty, the Allied Powers most likely did not have the power or will to invade Germany.
The ongoing neurosis of France of being attacked is cleverly expanded and lays the foundation for the formation of the European Union to overcome this..
Would the SecondWar have been prevented if the U.S.A had ratified the treaty and guaranteed the peace by force?
I now understand the subject so much better this lecture series should be made compulsory content for all political based education.

This was outstanding.

I have listened to dozens of the Great Courses offerings and a few of the Modern Scholars. This is in the top tier. The professor is fascinating to listen to, and she has an excellent command of an engaging topic. This is worth your time.

Riveting history of the aftermath of WW I

Would you consider the audio edition of The Modern Scholar to be better than the print version?

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What other book might you compare The Modern Scholar to and why?

The Guns of August is an account of the first month of WW I. You get into the trenches and keep your head down. With Six Months That Changed the World... you sit down at the negotiating table and see how much of the political geography of the modern world was shaped at the end of WW I.

Which character – as performed by the narrator – was your favorite?

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

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Any additional comments?

Excellent history of the aftermath of WW I. Professor MacMillan keeps things moving at a brisk pace and covers all the details. I downloaded this set of lectures to my iPod, plugged my iPod into the auxiliary jack of my car and into drove from Ashland, Oregon to San Francisco, CA. Six hours later I arrived in San Francisco with no idea how I got there.

Interesting information and easy to listen to.

I felt like she apologized for Wilson but seemed to cover both sides of the aurguments. If you are interested in world history or the beginnings of the Progressive movement this is a great read.

Thoroughly Enjoyable History

If you enjoy 20th century history, this is a good book to pick up. Much of what we think we know about the end of WWI (and thus later 20th century history) is not always completely accurate. Prof. MacMillan breaks it all down in an engaging and clear way. This is probably one of the best audiobooks I've ever listened to. Really enjoyed it. And, I feel like I'm coming away with a much better understanding of what was to happen in later history, right up to the present day.

Fascinating

I love the modern scholar series and this might be the best so far. I listened to it right after the WWI series, and it was a perfect complement.

Excellent

Any additional comments?

Great lecture! This should be required for all of our politicians so they understand what they are dealing with in Europe, middle east and the rest of the world.

Very well structured and enlightening!

Great to go to university again with a superb professor. Professor MacMillan makes this topic so clear to understand although it happened over 100 years ago.