Extreamly solid yet with strange idiosyncrasies

All in all The Age of Revolution, part one in Hobsbawm's epic Quadrilogy, is an excellent history of the revolutionary changes in Europe (Mainly Britain and France, with the rest being shared out primarily to Europe with the smallest portion being reserved for the rest of the world). Hobsbawm, who's socialist leanings are proudly worn on his sleeve, isn't as exclusively focused on the conflicts over wealth and production as one would assume. A satisfying amount of the book dedicated to area's like culture and geopolitics which help to round out the the world he is guiding us through.

However there is one noticeable issue with the book, and that is his messiah like veneration for the intellectual contributions of Karl Marx. Some bias was always to be expected and one certainly cant discuss the 19th century without examining the impact of socialist theory. And yet, Hobsbawms veneration of Marx reaches a point where one could only assume Marx was the single greatest intellectual mind of the 1800's, a man who's work could be seen as the closest representation of truth that has been conceived. Even for someone with a healthy scepticism of capitalism's many (many) failings, this comes off too much like hero worship to feel like a credible assessment of Marx's teachings.

Still, is this enough to detract from the overall experience? Not quite, this book is too insightful for too much of its overall content not to recommended. Just be prepared to chuckle and roll your eyes every time he brings up his proletarian man crush

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3 people found this helpful

A classic must read

Published way back in 1962 and yet it remains one of the best texts covering the revolutionary period from 1789 to 1848. I noticed a few philistine comments in the other reviews about Marx. Yes, Hobsbawm is a historian which a materialist conception, he credits Marx as one of the greatest thinkers of the 19th century and this cannot be argued against in my opinion. That said I give his account to be very fair and informative about the cultural and economic currents of the period. the political revolution of France and its twin, the industrial revolution, that started in England. he describes very well good these momentous transformations altered the political, artistic, scientific and economic landscapes in such a dramatic and irreversible way.

The audiobook is well read and very listenable. There are several short quotations and phrases in foreign languages which are pronounced very well.

All in all I think this is a very good production of a very enjoyable history.

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2 people found this helpful

great material history from below

finally, hobsbawns French revolutionary history is not told from the pearl clutching anxiety of the rich! more Marxist history for the working class (that's you and me and everyone you know!)!

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Excellent material, poor performance.

For example, the actor reads:

'the British banned suttee, the burning of windows'

It's a shame if actors don't master the material.

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