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Postwar

A History of Europe Since 1945

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Postwar

By: Tony Judt
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Postwar by Tony Judt, read by Ralph Cosham.

Tracing the story of post-war Europe and its changing role in the world, Judt's magnificent history of the continent of our times investigates the political, social and cultural history of Europe from the wreckage of post-war Europe to the expansion of the EU into the former Soviet empire. Judt's stress is on the continent as a whole, from Greece to Norway, from Portugal to Russia.

This, uniquely, is a hstory that pays due attention to both Western and Eastern Europe, to cultural and social developments as to political and diplomatic events. Throughout Judt shows how politics, society, culture and popular culture influenced each other. A masterly and definitive history of our continent in a crucial period of its history, Europe in our time.

 20th Century Europe Modern Political Science Politics & Government Russia Socialism Soviet Union Imperialism Capitalism

Critic Reviews

Truly superb - a magnificent achievement. It is hard to imagine how a better - and more readable - history of the emergence of today's Europe from the ashes of 1945 could ever be written; I can't think of another work on the latter half of the 20th century that comes close to matching it. I learnt an immense amount from it, and had unbounded admiration for the way Tony Judt seemed to feel equally at ease with macro-economic comparisons, the bureaucratic niceties of the European Union, the complexities of developments in different East European countries before and after 1989, and the changing cultural scene across the Continent. All in all, a real masterpiece. (Sir Ian Kershaw)
This is a book which is not just wholeheartedly to be recommended; it ought to be an obligatory part of the school curriculum across the continent. It is a monumental work, which would make an excellent bookend or doorstop. But please read it first.
Tony Judt is splendidly equipped to write the history of Europe since the second world war... One of Postwar's great achievements is to break with the orthodox, almost triumphalist narrative of European history since the war, and to show just how complicated, confused and contingent that story really was... The other really striking thing about Judt's account is that it gives so much time and thought to what Donald Rumsfeld calls 'New Europe'... [Judt] moves fluently and deftly from politics and economics to films and television... Judt's clear-eyed judgment and mastery of detail are at their absolute best... This magnificently rich and readable book
All stars
Most relevant
A slow building narrative that ultimately leaves you with a great understanding of the role of memory and memorislisation. the role of the welfare state and the emergence of the EU. well worth a read eventually got use to the voice you probably will too as it's a monster of an audiobook in length.

well worth a read for all students of politics

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It's well written and based on deep thinking and research. It makes you more fully realise how remarkable and dynamic this period is.
I was particularly fascinated by the parts that deal with Eastern Europe and how this region came through after so much incredible suffering and oppression. It will cure you of any lingering sympathy for the soviet project, it was always based only on power and domination, it never had a true spirit of human liberation.
Judt was a very competent writer. I never felt that there were awkward or unclear passages. He has a great ability to compress the information and interpretation without making it feel too compressed.
There's many hours of great listening here even though the reading is workmanlike and not particularly skilled, the reader still does the job competently enough. Go ahead and get it! If you want something that is serious, yet not difficult, you will really be stimulated by this history.

You will learn so much

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I thought this book and audiobook was a thoroughly detailed account of the recovery of postwar Europe.

I don’t think you could find a better narrator for this body of work.

I constantly go back to listen to refer to chapters and are in the process of ordering a physical copy of the book.

Highly recommend!

A wonderful account of modern European history

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I initially thought that the book would focus on a few countries and themes, but it covers comprehensively east, west, and central Europe. It looks into economics, politics, and culture.. Touches on the legacies of facism, empire, and comunism with ease and balance. He is not afraid to praise or criticise where it is due.
Finally, great performance. The reader knows several languages and pronounces well in Spanish and French, and his German sounds convincing.
All in all, a great book!

Encyclopaedic & a joy to read to the last sentence

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Thorough, original analysis and recounting of European history. Phenomenal scholarship. Highly recommended for the content.

Performance is good but the narrator flubs a few lines, for example referring to "Southern England" when they meant to say "Southern Italy". Chapters are unnamed and don't line up with the book chapters making it hard to refer back to.

Excellent history, OK performance

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