A Native’s Return: 1945-1988

By: William L. Shirer

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

The prominent journalist, historian, and author - an eyewitness to some of the most pivotal events of the 20th century - tells the story of his final years.

In this last book of a three-volume series, William L. Shirer recounts his return to Berlin after the Third Reich’s defeat. Having fled Berlin and imminent arrest by the Gestapo in 1940, Shirer returned to Europe in October 1945 to verify the facts of the Fuhrer’s death, thus bringing to a close - or so he thought - his involvement with the Third Reich.

He describes his return to his homeland and his ensuing careers as a broadcast journalist and author. He describes the McCarthy years and how the blacklist affected his own network, CBS.

More personal than the first two volumes, this final installment takes an unflinching look at the author’s own struggles after World War II, his shocking firing by CBS News, and his final visit to Paris 60 years after he first lived there as a cub reporter in the 1920s. Here is also his vindication after the publication of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, his most acclaimed work. It also provides intimate details of his often-troubled marriage, and it paints a bittersweet picture of his final decades, friends lost to old age, and a changing world.

This book gives listeners a surprising and moving account of the last years of a true historian - and an important witness to history.

©1990 William L. Shirer (P)2019 Blackstone Audio

Remarkable

As usual a remarkable account of the most important historical events of the 20s century as well as his personal accounts are a true treasure

Extraordinary narration

I rarely write a review, but I feel compelled to comment on the excellence of the narration in this trilogy memoir. Quite aside from these books being an extraordinary well written, interesting reflection of an amazingly rich life, the narration was such that I kept thinking it was the author himself telling me the story of his life. It felt so up close and personal.

Remembering the names and places

I liked remembering the places he wrote about and the names of people who were in the news.

An old friend speaks

I know at times he comes across bitter and one that holds a grudge. But this book is about him and his feelings not about trying to impress the reader/listener with how forgiving or magnanimous he is. He is giving you his true feelings and observations as he saw it.
Do I like the way he portrayed Ragan and others that we on the right hold dear? No, but this book isn't written to please or pander. It is how he saw and understood the events of the time and the people that made or reacted to them.
Like Alan Morehead his personal observations because of being there are priceless.

Like hearing an old friend tell hisife story

I absolutely loved this book, the last of the set of 3 autobiographical books of William Shirer. The narration is perfect. Highly recommended. It reminds me so much of sitting and listening to my very intelligent father in law tell of events in his life.