The Storm of War

A New History of the Second World War

By: Andrew Roberts

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

Length: 28 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

The Second World War lasted for 2,174 days, cost $1.5 trillion, and claimed the lives of more than 50 million people. What were the factors that affected the war's outcome? Why did the Axis lose? And could they, with a different strategy, have won?

Andrew Roberts' acclaimed new history has been hailed as the finest single-volume account of this epic conflict. From the western front to North Africa, from the Baltic to the Far East, he tells the story of the war - the grand strategy and the individual experience, the cruelty and the heroism - as never before.

In researching this magnificently vivid history, Roberts walked many of the key battlefields and wartimes sites in Russia, France, Italy, Germany, and the Far East, and drew on a number of never-before-published documents, such as a letter from Hitler's director of military operations explaining the reasoning behind the Fuhrer's order to halt the Panzers outside Dunkirk - a delay that enabled British forces to evacuate. Roberts illuminates the principal actors on both sides and analyzes how they reached critical decisions. He also presents the tales of many little-known individuals whose experiences form a panoply of the extraordinary courage and self-sacrifice, as well as the terrible depravity and cruelty, of the Second World War.

Meticulously researched and masterfully written, The Storm of War gives a dramatic account of this momentous event and shows in remarkable detail why the war took the course it did.

©2011 Andrew Roberts (P)2011 Tantor

Stronger on the European Side but a good read.

The strong point of this book was in the European Theater. It was light on the US involvement side too. Where I found it very strong is with Winston Churchill, Adolph Hitler, and Joseph Stalin. The book does a very good job of covering these leaders and the decisions they made and their consequences. US involvement was as a production facility for the European Theater, provide a few troops, and win “America’s War with the Japanese. Didn’t spend much more time on the US than that. I don’t believe that was the focus of the book.

The narrator, Christian Rodska, did a very good job throughout the book. My true rating for the book would be 4.5. It is a very good read, full of information, information and interesting story’s.

Excellent overview

Really enjoyed the overview into the sweeping history of ww2 doesn’t really dig to deep into individual battles or at least as deep as you could. But for someone starting out this will give you a good grounding before specializing
Plus I am a big fan of narrators that act so enjoyed the voices and accents of the different players

What a dope I've been!

I grew up thinking WWII was akin to a club-med camping trip. (But that's what our Gov. wanted us to think.) I'm sure this book didn't tell everything that went on. But like Gen. Sherman of the Civil War once said; "War is hell!" And he wasn't kidding! Good book.

I had to adjust to the strong British accent. But once I got used to it. . . I was hooked!

Great bird's eye view of WWII

The book does a great job of giving the big picture of the war, and also of showing glimpses of the personalities involved. I liked the reader, too, although many of his American characters sounded like John Wayne.

Excellent analysis of WWII

Layout of the chapters was only slightly confusing. Not enough to detect from a well written and well performed book. Would recommend.

A truly amazing history of WWII

Christian Rodska's reading of this powerful book adds vigor to the telling. I plan to listen to it again and again.

Because he was a Nazi

One of the best histories of WWIi.
Clearly written and performed. The French and German saying should have been translated. The authors judgments were a minor intrusion, most of which I agreed with.
Why the Axis lost, step by step was well explained. The volume of research was overwhelming. The reading and voices were superb.

WW2 behind the scenes

An excellent narrative of the many other aspects and view points surrounding WW2. Very in depth study into the who what and why that compliments the common more studied knowledge about that terrible time.

A thoughtful, complete, engaging important story

A tremendous investment of time and focus as we are taken into battles, personalities and decisions. An important book for all who consider themselves world citizens and wonder where the world is going today.

Compelling, insightful, entertaining

Less a linear history and more of a theater-by-theater retelling, emphasis on Europe (only Midway, Burma, and the closing days in the Pacific get anywhere near the detail of the struggle against the Germans.) Between the conversational prose and the narrator’s enthusiastic delivery, this is like WWII retold by your favorite history teacher at the pub after one pint too many. Always compelling and full of revelatory insights.