Appeasement

Chamberlain, Hitler, Churchill, and the Road to War

De: Tim Bouverie

Narrado por: John Sessions

A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE • SUNDAY TIMES (UK) BESTSELLER • A gripping history of the British appeasement of Hitler on the eve of World War II

“An eye-opening narrative that makes for exciting but at times uncomfortable reading as one reflects on possible lessons for the present.”—Antonia Fraser, author of Mary Queen of Scots

On a wet afternoon in September 1938, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain stepped off an airplane and announced that his visit to Hitler had averted the greatest crisis in recent memory. It was, he later assured the crowd in Downing Street, "peace for our time." Less than a year later, Germany invaded Poland and the Second World War began.

Appeasement is a groundbreaking history of the disastrous years of indecision, failed diplomacy and parliamentary infighting that enabled Hitler's domination of Europe. Drawing on deep archival research and sources not previously seen by historians, Tim Bouverie has created an unforgettable portrait of the ministers, aristocrats, and amateur diplomats who, through their actions and inaction, shaped their country's policy and determined the fate of Europe.

Beginning with the advent of Hitler in 1933, we embark on a fascinating journey from the early days of the Third Reich to the beaches of Dunkirk. Bouverie takes us not only into the backrooms of Parliament and 10 Downing Street but also into the drawing rooms and dining clubs of fading imperial Britain, where Hitler enjoyed surprising support among the ruling class and even some members of the royal family.

Both sweeping and intimate, Appeasement is not only an eye-opening history but a timeless lesson on the challenges of standing up to aggression and authoritarianism--and the calamity that results from failing to do so.

Detailed and informative account of run up to WWII

Very well written and researched, this terrific narrative history provided me a much clearer understanding of what appeasement meant at the time and why that was (at the beginning at least, but excluding Churchill) the predominant thinking in Britain and other nations. It wasn't only Chamberlain by far. Although the narration is somewhat controversial, once I got used to his style, I was quite riveted to the story telling - normally I only listen to audio books during commutes, but I often continued listening long after reaching my destination (i.e. can't put the book down). Yes, the narration gets slightly over the top on occasion (so 4 stars for him), but he truly grabs my attention and does a reasonable job of impersonating historical characters such as Churchill and Roosevelt. Much prefer his style to the monotone recitals of many other narrators. Guess it's a matter of taste.

Reader unacceptable !

The reader goes from loud to very quiet. There is no way to listen at one volume setting! Also the reader is way too dramatic,
I cannot concentrate on the content of the book! Very poor performance!

Narration not as bad as some reviewers say

The narration isn’t great, but it isn’t so bad as to pass on this excellent audiobook.

Great Book/Horrible Narration

This book filled with fascinating information regarding the events and the deal-making going on behind the scenes in the lead-up to WWII. However, the audio version was almost impossible to listen to and is certainly, difficult to enjoy. Believe what others have said about the narration. It is over-the-top with drama and has no consistency of volume for the speaker. He will begin a sentence with shouting and then end it in a whisper making it challenging to understand what is being said. Many times I had to rewind and modulate the volume to hear what was being said. The narrator also tries to imitate speakers like Chamberlain and Churchill, which was really annoying most of the time.

I love Audible books when they are audible.

Tim Bouverie wrote an excellent book. It is well written and covers the topic with specifics and insight. In fact, if it weren't an outstanding book, I would have bailed because the narration is so frustrating. The reader is annoyingly dramatic, but the real problem is that the reader's voice swings between a shout and a murmur. I find myself having to hit the replay button when the narration goes to an imperceptible sotto voce whisper. I love Audible books but not when they are inaudible.

So Much History

This book describes the failure of powerful people to check Hitler by failing to enforce the Treaty of Versailles and allowing Hitler to violate the treaty with out consequences inch by inch. Amazing how people placed in a position of public trust seem to be more concerned about their legacies rather than the well being of the citizens of their country. Also interesting how the failure of of a country’s leadership to keep their country militarily strong played in to the lack of the ability to make strong decisions to thwart the inevitable war.

Narrator has overly Shakespearean drama touch

The book is long and overworked but necessary to do justice to such a difficult and complex topic. The book gives insight to such convoluted political beurocracy it is nightmarish in form. The dramatic narrator distracts from the topic and is only tolerable after drinking a glass of wine. Please get a different narrator to do the book and I will gladly purchase the book again.

Fascinating and mind boggling....

Can't agree with those who did not like the narrator. He spoke clearly, precisely and not so fast you lost what he was saying. Better than many monotone, or worse, nasal or or High pitched readings of some audio books I have tried to listen to. But as someone said, I guess it is a matter of taste.

Prelude to Tragedy

The naivete of British leadership in the 1930s is the theme of “Appeasement,” a suspenseful and compelling history of the failure to confront fascist dictatorships prior to World War II.

Tim Bouverie has written a detailed history of the increasingly unsupportable efforts of the British government to prevent war by allowing Hitler to acquire more and more territory in central Europe. While the British people seem to have supported appeasement initially by a wide margin, public support waned quickly as Germany became more aggressive and the promises of its leadership were more obviously exposed as lies. But the government of Neville Chamberlain continued to want to believe in a peace with Germany right until the outbreak of war in 1939.

Chamberlain cannot be called a villain, because his heart was in the right place. But he comes across as a fussy old fool as he rationalizes the Anschluss with Austria and the invasion of Czechoslovakia. Repeatedly, British diplomats want to believe in Hitler’s promises, and they are repeatedly betrayed. Only a small group around Winston Churchill has the sense to recognize the dangers of appeasement, and they are marginalized by the leaders of their own Tory party.

We know, sadly, how the tale will end. Years of murder, hatred and destruction. But Bouverie manages to make this tragic history suspenseful and fascinating. One wants to shout at the British cabinet to react, to stop appeasing the growing aggression of Germany under Hitler.

The narrator adds to the drama and suspense. While John Sessions uses a lot of histrionics as he reads, that helps hold the reader’s attention as the author details political maneuvering and the ongoing Cabinet and Parliamentary debates. Overall, an educational and thoroughly enjoyable read.

The Authoritative Book on Appeasement

The audiobook is worth purchasing for the narration alone. An excellent performance backed by excellent scholarship.