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  • The Second World War

  • By: Antony Beevor
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 39 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (292 ratings)

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The Second World War

By: Antony Beevor
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Publisher's Summary

A magisterial, single volume history of the greatest conflict the world has ever known by our foremost military historian.

The Second World War began in August 1939 on the edge of Manchuria and ended there exactly six years later with the Soviet invasion of northern China. The war in Europe appeared completely divorced from the war in the Pacific and China, and yet events on opposite sides of the world had profound effects.

Using the most up to date scholarship and research, Beevor assembles the whole picture in a gripping narrative that extends from the North Atlantic to the South Pacific and from the snowbound steppe to the North African Desert.

Although filling the broadest canvas on a heroic scale, Beevor's The Second World War never loses sight of the fate of the ordinary soldiers and civilians whose lives were crushed by the titanic forces unleashed in this, the most terrible war in history.

Read by Sean Barrett.

©2012 Antony Beevor (P)2012 Orion Publishing Group
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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  • Overall
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Both comprehensive and interesting

Beevor's approach is all-encompassing. He covers the political ground, as well as including the perspective from all ranks and fronts involved. From Supreme Commanders to buck-privates to house-wives, the listener is presented with a rounded picture of the key events and conditions of the major theatres in the war. There is a comprehensive coverage of the Asian and Pacific theatres of war; it is not just a Euro-centred account.
Sean Barrett has gravitas and reads with an easy command of the language. His pronunciation of European words and phrases is impressive, as are the accents he adopts for different nationalities. They never seem too much, and give 'just enough' for an impression of different perspectives.
Overall, a thoroughly entertaining audible book.

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7 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent read

I listen to audiobooks when I am driving for work and look for a great story and good production. The subject matter is difficult to cover in a concise and logical way, but Beevor is a master at his craft. This is over 44 hours of enjoyable and easy to follow history that brings a personal aspect to a massive story. The narration flows effortlessly and is clear and never boring. Well worth the effort.

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6 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Great author of historical conflicts

Would you consider the audio edition of The Second World War to be better than the print version?

I enjoy listening rather than reading so would recommend the audio version over the paper version. The only thing I would say is that because WWII was fought on many fronts it can sometimes be hard to follow where parts of the audio drop off and pick up although the book is narrated generally by date.

Any additional comments?

Antony Beevor is a great author and I would recommend any of his Titles having read most. I don't rate this as good as Stalingrad or Berlin: The Downfall but still a great read to understand what happened where during WWII

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Overwhelming

The story of WW2 takes no less than 40 hours to tell and even then it is like drinking from a fire hose. A must listen to.

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The definitive macro level work on WW2.

This book really is a must read for any history fan. It covers the conflict at a high level so that you really begin to appreciate the trends and force that shaped it's outcome.

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Essential listening

Well written and researched material, expertly delivered. Can't recommend this audio book enough to all history buffs.

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Fantastic. Sobering and harrowing, incredibly detailed with pointed, sharp analysis from Beevor. Just brilliant

The most comprehensive and brilliantly presented history of World War 2. Bravo to the author, and to the reader for bringing this to life.

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A neccessary reminder of the savagery of war

It is testament to WWII's representation/misrepresentation through decades of partisan coverage that Beevor's meticulous retelling is still so shocking. While the torrent of events can be hard to track at times, he excels in painting the picture of events on the ground, particularly for the civilian populations caught in the meatgrinder.

Sean Barrett's narration is excellent and well suited to the challenging material. Thoroughly recommended.

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Good read and well read

Great read!! A lot of details that I never knew! Some very disturbing stories that brings more to the story of WW2 that times, places and dates

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Mind boggling.

Brilliant research of the day to day experience of the people who were affected by the war and the viciousness and stupidity of the whole thing.

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