Jerusalem

The Biography

By: Simon Sebag Montefiore

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 25 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Jerusalem is the universal city, the capital of two peoples, the shrine of three faiths; it is the prize of empires, the site of Judgement Day and the battlefield of today’s clash of civilizations. From King David to Barack Obama, from the birth of Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the Israel-Palestine conflict, this is the epic history of three thousand years of faith, slaughter, fanaticism and coexistence.

How did this small, remote town become the Holy City, the “center of the world” and now the key to peace in the Middle East? In a gripping narrative, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals this ever-changing city in its many incarnations, bringing every epoch and character blazingly to life. Jerusalem’s biography is told through the wars, love affairs and revelations of the men and women - kings, empresses, prophets, poets, saints, conquerors and whores - who created, destroyed, chronicled and believed in Jerusalem. As well as the many ordinary Jerusalemites who have left their mark on the city, its cast varies from Solomon, Saladin and Suleiman the Magnificent to Cleopatra, Caligula and Churchill; from Abraham to Jesus and Muhammad; from the ancient world of Jezebel, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod and Nero to the modern times of the Kaiser, Disraeli, Mark Twain, Lincoln, Rasputin, Lawrence of Arabia and Moshe Dayan.

Drawing on new archives, current scholarship, his own family papers and a lifetime’s study, Montefiore illuminates the essence of sanctity and mysticism, identity and empire in a unique chronicle of the city that many believe will be the setting for the Apocalypse. This is how Jerusalem became Jerusalem, and the only city that exists twice - in heaven and on earth.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2011 Simon Sebag Montefiore (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Magnificent . . . The city’s first ‘biography’ - a panoptic narrative of its rulers and citizens, heroes and villains, harlots and saints . . . Montefiore barely misses a trick or a character in taking us through the city’s story with compelling, breathless tension.” (Norman Lebrecht, Wall Street Journal)

“Impossible to put down . . . A vastly enjoyable chronicle [with] many fascinating asides . . . Montefiore has a fine eye for the telling detail, and also a powerful feel for a good story.” (Jonathan Rosen, New York Times Book Review)

“Magisterial . . . As a writer, Montefiore has an elegant turn of phrase and an unerring ear for the anecdote that will cut to the heart of a story . . . It is this kind of detail that makes Jerusalem a particular joy to read.” (The Economist)

Jerusalem

This is a most thorough and engaging history book! Loved it and will read it again!

Supplementary documents

It was very nice book full of facts and details. Hearing the audible gave a broad picture. I will certainly re-read the book. It would have been very beneficial if supplementary document contained more facts categorized by chapters

The Eternal City

Three thousand years of History compressed into one volume, in 2011 I visited Jerusalem Israel and Palestine. When I got home a friend of mine asked me “How did you find the Holy-Land? My answer “It’s Not Holy” Simon Sebag Montefiore story is just that of a very very troubled city.

Excellent

The best view of Jerusalem ever. This fact-based scientific work has strengthen my faith.

Very Well Researched

A little long but an excellent historical record of one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

Well done! With some qualifications

Simon Montefiore did a great job in making the complicated history of Jerusalem understandable. There are some issues in his interpretation of Christian history that are questionable. Nonetheless, it's the best work on the matter.

you thought you knew

so much to take in. it really gives you a complete picture of this city and is place in history and present. I will be thinking about this for a bit.

Must read for anyone interested in Jerusalem

I read this book before visiting the Holy Land last year and it provided so much valuable information. It’s a historically dense book, so sometimes hard to understand, but very interesting. The amount of research in this is incredible!

Wow!

What an incredible feat. To bring so much history, so many dates and empires and overthrows into such vivid, fascinating detail. Not a dry moment in the whole book. And perfectly read by the fantastic John Lee.

I feel so much richer for understanding the sordid, complex, fascinating history of this troubled and tremendous city that is Jerusalem.

This book may put you off religion

An amazing history full of information but a very depressing story of how humankind haven’t been unable to reconcile differences. Full of blood and gore the story of Jerusalem is a story of humanity at its worst.