History and poetry
feel similar to me in the springtime; the hint of renewed life as the days lengthen reminds me that human civilization runs in cycles, too. As your History editor, I could probably get away with slipping some Greek or Roman poetry into this newsletter: the catalogue of Achaean ships from Book 2 of the Iliad, perhaps, or the sack of Troy from the second book of the Aeneid. I’m going to spare you the epic, however, in favor of lyric poetry…because armchair historians like us have tender hearts, too.in time of daffodils (who know– e.e. cummings
the goal of living is to grow)
forgetting why, remember how.
If that isn’t History’s challenge to the modern world, I don’t know what is. Enjoy!
- Christina, Audible editor
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Every Drop of Blood
- Hatred and Healing at Lincoln's Second Inauguration
- By: Edward Achorn
- Narrated by: Adam Barr
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 226
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 187
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 186
By March 4, 1865, the Civil War had slaughtered more than 700,000 Americans. After a morning of rain-drenched fury, tens of thousands crowded Washington’s Capitol grounds that day to see Abraham Lincoln take the oath for a second term. As the sun emerged, Lincoln rose to give perhaps the greatest inaugural address in American history, stunning the nation by arguing, in a brief 701 words, that both sides had been wrong, and that the war’s unimaginable horrors - every drop of blood spilled - might well have been God’s just verdict on the national sin of slavery.
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5 out of 5 stars
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New and fascinating
- By Clark Booth on 07-19-20
With malice toward none, with charity for all….
This month, Audible Studios publishes Every Drop of Blood by Edward Achorn—a fresh take on the polarization and divisiveness in Washington and the nation at the start of Lincoln’s second term, and how Lincoln’s stunning second inaugural address was a pivotal moment toward healing. Adam Barr’s narration of the audio is the perfect complement to the author’s stirring prose. Don’t take my word for it: Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon Wood (more on him in a minute!) said, It is hard to imagine anyone saying anything new about Abraham Lincoln, the most written-about figure in American history. But Edward Achorn has done it…this is the work of a superb imaginative historian.
Let Us Strive On!
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Empire of Liberty
- A History of the Early Republic
- By: Gordon S. Wood
- Narrated by: Robert Fass
- Length: 30 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,205
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 909
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 891
In Empire of Liberty, one of America's most esteemed historians, Gordon S. Wood, offers a brilliant account of the early American Republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812. As Wood reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life - in politics, society, economy, and culture.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent historical writing
- By Joseph on 01-14-10
Speaking of superb, imaginative historians...
Gordon Wood has a special place in my history-loving heart because I acquired Empire of Liberty in my first year at Audible. The incomparable narrator Robert Fass performed the audio; he made American history feel strangely suspenseful at times, while always maintaining perfect diction and pronunciation. The book was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, but it was even more thrilling for the audio to be nominated for—and to win!—the Audie Award for Best History Audiobook 2011. (So sue me, I’m biased!) At the time, only eight volumes of The Oxford History of the United States—out of a planned dozen—had been published. Now we have nine…and while we wait for the last three titles to appear, this month is a great time to listen (again) to the full sweep of American history, told with authority, novelistic detail, and the question tacit on each page: what next?
Take Me Back!
The Distaff Side of History
Everyone at Audible knows I’m always on the prowl to work arcane terminology-of-yore into daily conversation, and the distaff side
seems perfect for Women’s History Month. Shakespeareans, genealogists, and fans of medieval poetry can tell you that the maternal line of your family tree is the the distaff side,
derived from the word for the forked stick that held long flax fibers waiting to be spun into thread. For most of human history, spinning was women’s work, since it could be done in the home and in short bursts between household chores and childcare. The idea of each moment of personal history as a bit of flax, spun by women into a durable thread, and then into cloth—what better way to think of the struggles and triumphs of our foremothers? Have fun with this special collection of intersectional voices for Women’s History Month, handpicked by the Audible Editors!
Let's Spin!
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The Mirror & the Light
- A Novel
- By: Hilary Mantel
- Narrated by: Ben Miles
- Length: 38 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,923
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,646
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1,635
The story begins in May 1536: Anne Boleyn is dead, decapitated in the space of a heartbeat by a hired French executioner. As her remains are bundled into oblivion, Cromwell breakfasts with the victors. The blacksmith’s son from Putney emerges from the spring’s bloodbath to continue his climb to power and wealth, while his formidable master, Henry VIII, settles to short-lived happiness with his third queen, Jane Seymour.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Ben Miles is not as good a reader...
- By EllenP on 03-13-20
A long-anticipated cycle finds closure
The release date for the third title in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy about Thomas Cromwell has been on my social calendar for almost a year. The performance—almost 40 hours’ worth!—was worth the wait, thanks to Ben Miles. Humblebrag: I had the privilege to speak with Hilary Mantel on the phone, and she told me that Ben Miles (the star of Wolf Hall in London and on Broadway) channeled Thomas Cromwell so perfectly that some of the actor’s utterances made it into the dialogue of The Mirror and the Light! I can’t wait till everyone has listened, so we can spend years discussing Tudor England and the very real life of fictional Baron Essex (né Thomas Cromwell!). Let me know your favorite moments @charcar on Twitter. Happy Spring!
Now Get Up!
About the Editor
Opinionated. Omnivoracious. Nostalgic. Christina loves history, big idea
nonfiction, literary and historical fiction, and fantasy. Her guilty pleasure: unearthing books in print that aren’t in audio...yet. Follow her on Twitter @charcar.
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