A Little History of the World

By: E. H. Gombrich

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

In 1935, with a doctorate in art history and no prospect of a job, twenty-six-year-old Ernst Gombrich was invited to attempt a history of the world for younger readers. Amazingly, he completed the task in an intense six weeks, and Eine kurze Weltgeschichte für junge Leser was published in Vienna to immediate success. It is now an international bestseller and available in almost thirty languages across the world.

In forty concise chapters, Gombrich tells the story of man from the Stone Age to the atomic bomb. In between emerges a colorful picture of wars and conquests, grand works of art, and the spread and limitations of science. This is a text dominated not by dates and facts but by the sweep of mankind’s experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity’s achievements and an acute witness to its frailties. The product of a generous and humane sensibility, this timeless account makes intelligible the full span of human history.

©1985 DuMont Literatur und Kunst Verlag GmbH und Co. KG, Cologne, Germany. English translation ©2005 Leonie Gombrich; (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"A lovely, lively historical survey....A fine conception and summarizing of the world's checkered past for young and old." (Kirkus Reviews)
"A remarkable book, written in an amiable, conversational style....This resurrected history deserves reading for all its delights." (The New York Times)

For the young and up

What a great review of history. At 65, and separated from the big picture of history by a demanding career, I enjoyed this refresher and shall use it as I pick my deeper dives.

Sweeping and Concise

This book should be used as a textbook in schools. I would have paid attention. History very well told. I could have heard more on the Viking era and the British isles, but still, a great book.

Amazing!!!

The guy wrote a masterpiece for children and adults alike. Just read it and fill in the voids with other books.

Perfect for curious kids

My second grader was riveted. Skip the prologue if you are listening with kids, otherwise every chapter is a gem.

Entering history

If you could sum up A Little History of the World in three words, what would they be?

truly enchanting story

What did you like best about this story?

This story puts you in the shoes of each character! I can feel the misery and the troubles and taste the gold and riches.

Which character – as performed by Ralph Cosham – was your favorite?

When Ralph Cosham spoke as a curious child it truly makes everyone laugh.

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

Each story was amazing but the chapter about Persian War really left me speechless