Try free for 30 days

Preview
  • 1942: Britain at the Brink

  • By: Taylor Downing
  • Narrated by: Ben Onwukwe
  • Length: 14 hrs and 22 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 ratings)

1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

1942: Britain at the Brink

By: Taylor Downing
Narrated by: Ben Onwukwe
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Eighty years ago, Britain stood at the brink of defeat. In 1942, a string of military disasters engulfed Britain in rapid succession: the collapse in Malaya, the biggest surrender in British history at Singapore, the passing of three large German warships through the Straits of Dover in broad daylight, the longest ever retreat through Burma to the gates of India, serious losses to Rommel's forces in North Africa, the siege of Malta and the surrender at Tobruk. All of this occurred against the backdrop of catastrophic sinkings in the Atlantic and the Arctic convoys. People began to claim that Churchill was not up to the job and that his leadership was failing badly. Public morale reached a new low. 1942: Britain at the Brink explores the story of frustration and despair in that year prompting the prime minister to demand of his army chief 'Have you not got a single general who can win battles?' Using new archival material, historian Taylor Downing shows just how unpopular Churchill became in 1942 with two votes attacking his leadership in the Commons and the emergence of a serious political rival.

Most people think that Britain's worst moment of the war was in 1940 when the nation stood up against the threat of German invasion. In 1942: Britain at the Brink, Taylor Downing describes in nail-biting detail what was really Britain's darkest hour .

©2022 Taylor Downing (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"Taylor Downing vividly brings to life a terrible year." (Max Hastings, Sunday Times)

"Taylor Downing is a wonderful historian and a wonderful history communicator." (Dan Snow, History Hit)

What listeners say about 1942: Britain at the Brink

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.