World War One: History in an Hour

By: Rupert Colley

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Length: 1 hr and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

History for busy people. Listen to a concise history of World War One in just one hour. World War One brought with it the world’s first experience of Total War, involving all of the world’s great powers, polarized between the Triple Entente, led by Britain, France and Russia, and the Central Powers, dominated by Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary. Around nine million men lost their lives in a conflict that introduced the horrors of trench warfare, machine guns, and toxic gas attacks.

World War One: History In an Hour gives you a clear overview of the road to war, the major turning points and battles, and the key leaders involved, as well as the lasting impact the Great War had on almost every country in the world. World War One: History In an Hour is essential listening for all history lovers.

©2012 Rupert Colley (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"If the past is a foreign country, History in an Hour is like a high-class tour operator, offering delightfully enjoyable short breaks in the rich and diverse continent of our shared past" (Dominic Sandbrook)

"The practice of History is ever-evolving, and the History In An Hour idea brings it back up to date for the digital age." (Andrew Roberts, Bookseller)

"This is genius." (MacWorld.com)

Concise review

This provides a good overview of the major events of WWI.

Obviously, one can not go into detail in an hour when covering such an important and well documented chapter of world history. The author does a good job of progressing from event to event without editorializing or engaging in "what if?" questions.

It is a nice refresher of the major players and events from the war to end all wars.

Good introduction or refresher

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It is an hour well spent brushing up on the basic timelines of WW1. There are a few interesting back stories of the main events and it covers it well. It would be a good introduction to the story of the Great War and is well told.
However it is not meant to be a thorough book - it brushes over most of the main points. I have a bookshelf of WW1 books and this skims the surface but it is worth a read especially if you don't know much about the war.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Archduke Franz Ferdinand???!

Great Entry Into the Topic

Would you listen to World War One: History in an Hour again? Why?

I would. As a teacher of history, this is a great refresher AND I learned something new about the topic. It is logically put together and easy to listen to.

What other book might you compare World War One: History in an Hour to and why?

Both "Stalin" and "The Russian Revolution" by this author were really good.

need to listen several times for it to sink in!

I appreciate this tutorial as summary of the history I ignored while in school. Checking facts and commentary has assured that there is much I missed and need to know.

As advertized, got no complaints

it was exactly as it said, short and to the point. truly it is shocking to hear how these events unfolded.

perfect overview

everything you need to know to understand the events of world war one and its history.

history buff

I needed a brief yet thorough understanding of World war one and that's what I received. In the process of listening to it again and decide which details I'd like to research further. Great jumping off point.

Good summation

Short and concise summary. It is a good review of the main elements and events

Interesting

This book was a nice, short, quick history lesson. I needed to brush up on my WW1 knowledge and this definitely helped!

good overall view

Provided interesting and useful details. would like the writer to do the same with other moments in our history, and everything end highlight people that made a difference, good or bad.

An hour well spent

Excellent overview of key issues providing context to the conflict. We listened to this before visiting First World War sites in Belgium.
Recommended

A worthwhile listen.

An amazing short look at a long and horrific, but still very interesting time in human history.

Concise History of The Great War

Is informative and insightful narrative to the events of this truly epic/horrific event in our past that shouldn't ever be forgotten. We all think we know about the these events but we all learn something new from the event leading up to 1914 . So this is a great and interesting narrative and eye opening in parts.

super informative

A great audiobook for those needing to get a basic but far reaching grasp of WW1 battles and politics.
By no means a complete history but a perfect starter with lots of vital information.

A good overview.

"World War One: History in an Hour" is a quick little summary of the conflict flawlessly narrated by Jonathan Keeble.

One hour well spent.

Very good and short insight into world war 1 and it’s key participants. From how it started to its end.

Jonathan Keeble is excellent

I enjoyed this book. Well paced and informative. Keeble is excellent as narrator in all the ‘History in an Hour’ series.

Well worth it

Brilliant summing up of the major parts of WW1 well worth it at this price and an hour well spent

World War 1 in an hour

Very good book i enjoyed it very much, to have all the important information about how and why it broke out was good and if I had a younger child who was doing a essay on WW1 I would use the book as a reference

History in an hour

I enjoyed this very much very quick and detailed regarding the events of World War One.