The Long 19th Century: European History from 1789 to 1917

By: Robert I. Weiner, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert I. Weiner

Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Few periods of history offer such captivating complexity as Europe in the long 19th century between 1789 and 1914. From the idealism of the French Revolution to the power of the Industrial Revolution to the chaos of World War I, this fascinating whirl of events, personalities, and forces formed the foundation for the modern world.

Over the course of 36 engaging lectures Professor Weiner leads you on a spirited journey across an ever-changing European landscape, examining the forces and personalities that reshaped the continent's physical borders, diplomatic relationships, and balance of power. Assuming no prior knowledge of this era and no professional vocabulary, he explores this turbulent and important era with interest, curiosity, and passion.

You'll look at what the transition to modernity meant for peasants, workers, the middle class, aristocrats, women, and minorities. And you'll consider the political and diplomatic moves of the great powers - Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Italy - in the context of the deeper economic, social, and cultural forces at work and how they reflect the impact of some of history's most significant names, including Napoleon Bonaparte, Otto von Bismarck, and Kaiser Wilhelm II.

With this ambitious look at the evolution of the environment that ultimately made World War I possible, Professor Weiner explores more than factual history - the dates, battles, and treaties. He repeatedly steps back from on-the-ground events to clarify historical trends or patterns, providing a comprehensive look at this engaging era.

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

©2005 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2005 The Great Courses

More of a Good Course than a Great Course

I've never yet listened to a production by "The Great Courses" that wasn't worthwhile, and "The Long 19th Century" is no exception. Prof. Weiner is both knowledgeable and engaging, with an obvious love for his subject. In particular, I found the final lectures, with their ties to WWI and to the "short" 20th Century which followed, to be the most interesting and rewarding.

My major complaint about this series is that, unlike the other Great Courses offerings I've listened to previously (and I've probably listened to a couple dozen), Prof. Weiner refers extensively to the suggested reading in the course guide. course guides aren't typically included GC downloads on Audible. Typically, the course guides are a nice compliment to the recorded material, but aren't an integral part of the course. While I don't think they were 'integral' in this lecture by any means, I did feel that the lecture was created with the assumption that readers would read the suggested texts (much as an undergraduate would), which puts the Audible listener at a disadvantage.

This is a quality product, and for anyone seeking a broad overview and thematic analysis of an important but poorly-remembered period in European history, this is probably a great place to start. But for those encountering the Great Courses series for the first time, I'd advise picking a different title.

Not as Good as Most Great Courses

I should start with the positives. First, the professor is clearly enthusiastic, and the last one-third of the course is better than the first two-thirds. That being said, I was mostly disappointed in this course relative to other Great Courses history classes. That's not to say that this course is bad...it is just not as good as what I am used to receiving from the Great Courses. There are several problems with the design of this course:
1. The professor structured the lectures more as commentaries than lessons, making it much more important to read the recommended source materials. The problem with this approach is that I listen to Great Courses precisely because I do not have time to read the source materials. While I appreciate the Great Courses providing a guidebook, and I understand that reading the guidebook can be helpful, I've come to expect Great Courses to be presented in a way that does not rely on the guidebook or recommended readings.
2. The course lacks sufficient chronology. The course is mostly topical and sometimes jumps back and forth through the 19th century to the point of confusion without providing sufficient detail.

Again, I do not want to be too harsh in my review. The Great Courses almost always produces an enjoyable and informative product. This course meets the minimum threshold of quality. However, the structural deficiencies makes this course less stellar as I have come to expect.

Amazing Analysis of WWI Causes

I have sat through countless hours of classroom lecture on the subject of WWI. I have read the best books and discussed this time period many times in the last few decades of my family and professional life. I have never heard a more precise and believable account of the proximate causes of that wars breakout in 1914 than this.

If for no other reason than to gain an understanding of how the tragedy of WWI could occur, listen.

Good overview of lead up to World War I

The positives: the professor is passionate about his subject. Many of his lectures were quite moving - I was especially stirred by the discussion of the lead up and experience of the Great War.

This is a fascinating period and I knew very little about it. He certainly whetted my appetite to know more. I appreciated learning about something I had really missed in school, despite being a history major. It was a confusing period of history as well.

What I didn't like: The lectures were more like an undergrad course, where he assumed I had done the background reading, and was riffing on themes that pervaded the time, rather than any recitation of what actually happened. Because of my lack of background, I was often confused, as was my 18 year old son who also listened. Other Great Courses titles are better about weaving through the facts so that the novice can follow. Even if you are a history nut (as we are), I wouldn't start with this GC, or at least realize that this is not how they are all presented. I'm listening now to Fagan on Ancient Rome, and Desan on the French Revolution, and both are doing a better job of making it understandable to the novice.

A great historical overview with no academic pressure

I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture series. Although this course had its fair share of specific dates and events, the context and overview of the time period made them relevant and easier to comprehend.

The19th century was a pivotal and complex time and Europe was the most powerful and volatile continent. A lot happened.

Professor Weiner is a master of the topic. He offers great insights into the trends of humanity, the effects of the events that shaped 19th century Europe and its impact on the 20th century and beyond.

I had a difficult time keeping track of all the political and social systems that came into play during this century because many were launched and tried during this tumultuous time. If I were to follow the book recommendations of the professor I'm sure I'd have a clearer understanding of 19th century liberalism, early anarchism and socialism - to name a familiar few.

This was my first experience with the "Great Courses" lecture series and I can only hope that my next one will be as informative and fulfilling.

Exceptional insights

Darn good course and I have an MA in the subject. I am still a little fuzzy about the Bismarck alliance system but who isn't? I am 67 years old but I wish I could be an undergraduate again and take these courses. This course puts me back in the classroom.

Not exactly what I was looking for

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The professor gets distracted often, and you can feel it. He will start making longer and longer pauses between words, and then just make a mistake (the wrong country name for example), and then correct himself, and eventually you hear him rally and get his line if thought back.

Any additional comments?

This is a very good summary of the period between the French Revolution and WW1, but it assumes that you've already studied all the separate parts. For example, it will not give you the story of the Crimean war, it will tell you of the events and processes lreading to it, and the impact it had, which lead to another thing which you're also supposed to already know about. So if, like me, you're looking to fill an education gap, because your high school education didn't cover the 19-th century properly, then this is not exactly the course that will do it. Although it might give you a good list of the significant things that you need to reserch further.

Good intro.

I think the four stars are more because of how interesting and complex the topic is, rather than for the actual analysis. I feel I know a bit more, indeed, and it's hard to make sense of such a complex set of circumstances all over the place. I could have done without the side remarks (no, I'm not impressed at Prof. Weiner's having spent New Year's Eve in Berlin once, or by how he and his wife once saw a rally in Paris. Seriously?) and without the over-emphasizing of half the words in a sentence and without him telling us how professional the people at the TC are. I guess I'm more of a barebones kind of reader.

Great Overivew!

There is a lot of history to cover in 120 years and the focus on themes rather than a narrative was very insightful and interesting!

Incredible learning experience!

Intense and complex material. Explained very well by a wonderful professor. Check out the downloadable course guide, it's very helpful! This course was entertaining and incredibly informative. Highly recommended for history buffs.

Interesting but nothing terribly new

Having previously enjoyed the Great Course on the Italian Renaissance I was expecting a similarly insightful and enjoyable listen with this series. While I was not wholly disappointed the course is not of a standard with my previous one for a number of reasons.

First and foremost Professor Weiner's delivery is not suited to an audiobook. I suspect his odd emphases (particularly overstressing the last word of a sentence seemingly regardless of context) work well in a lecture room when accompanied by visual aids and body language but after a few hours it really started to grate.

Secondly the content seemed a little thin at times. I would have preferred a more detailed look at more events rather than repeated half hour skims across 30 years of a given nation's history.

That said there are some excellent chapters where I learnt much, especially in the mid-century period around Metternich and Bismarck and I would say this is an interesting listen for those with an interest in the subject matter but definitely not for the casual listener who will be confused and irritated.

Why oh Why

Why do these Americans not bother to learn the correct pronunciation of European words. For example, how about Adolf instead of Ay-doff. I won't bother to list the multitude of others such as ant-eye instead of anti and as for the pronunciation of some of the European place and proper names, he nearly had me screaming with rage.
Just because there are so many American lecturers in this Great Courses series, it gives them no excuse for Americanising traditional European pronunciations set over many years of history.
Such a sing-song voice made it very irritating and it was difficult to overcome this and take in the content which was excellent.
I lost count of the number of times he says "quote unquote", what is the point of saying this when he also says "so and so says".
Positively the very worst lecturer to listen to that I have come across in this series.

interesting

I found the professors vocal inflections quite distracting and so found it hard to hear his message. and from a personal note, I am researching my family history and had a particular interest in Scandinavia in mid-19th century ...this book barely mentions but is more about the build up over the century toward WW1. I'm a bit disappointed in this book if I'm honest

Lecturer’s style spoils the content

I found this very difficult to listen to because of the lecturer’s style.
Almost every sentence was delivered with an excitable inflection as if each one was an astonishing revelation.
Grating and very off-putting.

What a disappointment!

I was so looking forward to this - as another Great Courses set of talks was brilliant. But this was truly awful. The lectures didn’t really go anywhere - just a long ramble about very little. And unfortunately the narration was equally dire.

American book!

Probably the worst Great Courses book I have listened to.
A patronising reader and a clear American bias to this history.
Beware if you are English.

Really very good

Engrossing from beginning to end. Highly focused on the diplomacy (as advertised) which was a nice change from one battle followed by another.