Paris 1919

Six Months That Changed the World

De: Margaret MacMillan

Narrado por: Suzanne Toren

Winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize, renowned historian Margaret MacMillan's best-selling Paris 1919 is the story of six remarkable months that changed the world. At the close of WWI, between January and July of 1919, delegates from around the world converged on Paris under the auspices of peace. New countries were created, old empires were dissolved, and for six months, Paris was the center of the world. Bringing to vivid life the individuals who participated in the great Peace Conference, including Woodrow Wilson, Winston Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia, and Ho Chi Minh, Paris 1919 is a landmark work of narrative history.©2002 Margaret MacMillan

Reseñas de la Crítica

"This book is a treasure." (Booklist)
"MacMillan's lucid prose brings her participants to colorful and quotable life, and the grand sweep of her narrative encompasses all the continents the peacemakers vainly carved up." (Publishers Weekly)

Great history lesson, super narrator!

Where does Paris 1919 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'm fairly new to audiobooks, this is by far the most serious book I've ordered. I work alone much of the time, so that's a great time to listen to a detailed reading. I've actually only listened to about a third of the book, which is so far 8 hours' worth, but wanted to post a review to say how much I like it. I imagine that I'll listen to it in the future, too.

What's so interesting about the book is how the decisions made at the Paris conference laid the groundwork for future controversies and wars, from World War II to the Balkan conflicts. The book does require really paying attention, but it pays off -- this is a detailed and well laid out history book, but it helps if you have some knowledge about the events surrounding World War I.

What about Suzanne Toren’s performance did you like?

I'm impressed by Suzanne Toren's narration, she's excellent, and I didn't get tired of her voice. I think this could be a difficult book to read aloud, it's a very complex story, and she handles it so well. She performs with just the right amount of acting to dramatize the voices of many key world leaders, and this aspect probably wouldn't come through so well if one were actually reading the book as opposed to listening to it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it's very long, but I am currently reading books about the same time period, so it fits in well. I'm very glad I've got time to listen to it.

For History Buffs Only

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Depends on the friend. This is not a book for the average reader.

Any additional comments?

If you are not at least a little bit of a history nut this is not the book for you. It is an exhaustive history, (I mean that in both meanings of the word). I suspect that no matter how much history you know you will learn something new in reading this. That said this is not a book for the beginner, a reasonable knowledge of per WWI European geography is necessary to follow the discussions of what lands went to whom.

One final note it is important to understand the the word "liberal" did not have the same meaning in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as it does today. At that point in time a liberal was one who believed in less government power and more individual rights and freedoms. The meaning is closer to what is considered libertarianism today.

Outstanding history

MacMillan is an outstanding historian with deep insights into a crucial historical moment. The Versailles Treaty has been an important event even today.

Amazing events that will never happen again

This book really was something special. At the end of the Great War the leaders of the world were in a position to actually remake the world. Going country by country, rather than chronologically, MacMillan discusses the players, the desires, the forces that conspired to literally change countries and divide up resources. Though many of their changes have no lasted to this day, their impact on world events can scarcely be exaggerated.

World War 1 has always seemed under-valued and under-read, and so the peace process right afterwards is not well understood. That in mind, I had very high hopes for the analysis, the depth, and the scope of this book. It still surpassed all expectations. Even the narration is great. Please, enjoy.

Paris 1919

This slice of history has enriched my understanding of the efforts of Wilson and others to achieve world peace culminating with the Treaty of Versailles. The narration is excellent. The work is long; I slept through parts, but I have every intention to listen to it entirely at least once more.

Lots and Lots of Chapters

Too much detail . . . everything you'd like to know about the Treaty of Versailles embedded within page after page of details and sidelights, dragging on and on, making those six months referred to in the title seem a long unnecessary voyage of tedium. I jumped ship after Chapter 18. Tell MacMillan to hire an editor and come back later.

Best book I've read in the past 2 or 3 years

Where does Paris 1919 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

#1

What did you like best about this story?

The author did a really good job of organizing the story and information.

What does Suzanne Toren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She was able to convey incredulity, sarcasm etc with her intonation.

Any additional comments?

The narrator did an astounding job. Really really superb

A boring subject made vivid.

Probably can't get a clearer description of what went on with this free-for-all involving so many countries.

Shaping the "Modern World"

If you are at all interested in how the current world crises began then this is a "no miss" book. I was truly amazed to learn that the dissolution of the Ottoman empire really set the tone and spawned so many of these issues that are now endangering our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren. Could not stop listening

Comprehensive account

Excellent account. Excellent performance. Only problem was I could not refer to maps while listening in my car.