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  • The Shortest History of Europe

  • By: John Hirst
  • Narrated by: Julian Elfer
  • Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)

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The Shortest History of Europe

By: John Hirst
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

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Publisher's Summary

Celebrated historian John Hirst offers a fascinating exploration of the qualities that made Europe a world-changing civilization.

The Shortest History of Europe begins with a rapid overview of European civilization, describing its birth from an unlikely mixture of classical learning and Christianity and German warrior culture. Over the centuries, this unstable blend produced highly distinctive characters - pious knights and belligerent popes, romantics spouting folklore and revolutionaries imitating Rome - and its coming apart provided the dynamic of European history in modern times.

The Shortest History of Europe is a clear, humorous and thought-provoking account of a remarkable civilization. This new edition brings the story into the present, covering the world wars and beyond.
©2009 John Hirst (P)2019 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
Europe Modern Europe
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What listeners say about The Shortest History of Europe

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Profile Image for Elle

FANTASTIC! Informative & FUN!

One of the best history books I ever read. I was born in the USSR - to a Ukrainian-Polish mother & an Armenian father. I grew up in Serbia, Croatia, Russia, Germany, Bosnia, London (UK) and now live in Australia. I found the clarity & style of author so easy to follow &’this book clarified a lot about my own heritage & the background to such events as the Holocaust, The Reformations, rise & fall of Roman Empire and the explanation why Christianity grew from a tiny Jewish sect into the omni-present World religion was BRILLIANT! THANK YOU Prof. Hirst!!! ,

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Best History Book

This is the best history book on Europe I have ever read.

A concise and clear chronicle, full of interesting historical milestones and political developments, this is a must read for anyone seeking a general understanding of Europe and it's story.

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Profile Image for Miss Suzy M

Impressive - both the content, style, a

Informative, enlightening, intriguing, and fun - yes, fun! I thoroughly enjoyed this remarkable history of Europe “in a nutshell”. Things that had long been a mystery to me are mysterious no more, thanks to John Hirst’s publication.

It takes significant writing talent to transform such a complex and unwieldy topic such as this into a bite-sized, well-written, comprehensive, cohesive, and at times truly witty book that makes the subject matter accessible for everyone.

I only wish I had come across this book earlier in my life; I could’ve saved myself much frustration not to mention the many hours poring over myriad reference books seeking to understand various aspects and eras of European history that invariably left me feeling more confused, my understanding often even more disjointed than when I started! My experience with this audiobook and my resultant understanding and knowledge was essentially the complete opposite to all that came before.

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A great refresher

A really good quick refresher as to how it all is the way it is. Well worth a listen

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