To Hell and Back

Europe, 1914-1949

De: Ian Kershaw

Narrado por: Leighton Pugh

In the summer of 1914 most of Europe plunged into a war so catastrophic that it unhinged the continent's politics and beliefs in a way that took generations to recover from.

The disaster terrified its survivors, shocked that a civilization that had blandly assumed itself to be a model for the rest of the world had collapsed into a chaotic savagery beyond any comparison.

In 1939 Europeans would initiate a second conflict that managed to be even worse - a war in which the killing of civilians was central and which culminated in the Holocaust.

To Hell and Back tells this story with humanity, flair and originality. Kershaw gives a compelling narrative of events, but he also wrestles with the most difficult issues that the events raise - with what it meant for the Europeans who initiated and lived through such fearful times - and what this means for us.

©2015 Ian Kershaw (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

broad and detailed

This is a good book, it is detailed but it never loses it pace and overview of the vast number of very significant events that happened in Europe in the first 5 decades of the 20th century. Voice was clear and evenly paced. A minor complaint can be made about the fake accents used for the quotes.

Superb on all fronts.

Superb writing, superb narration. Bravo. Very much looking forward to the next volume on postwar Europe...

Another Penguin Classic

While it’s not as good as Pursuit of Power for eloquence in my opinion it’s still an excellent survey of European history for this period.