The First World War
A Complete History
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The First World War
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Narrated by:
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Roger Clark
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By:
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Martin Gilbert
About this listen
It was to be the war to end all wars, and it began at 11:15 on the morning of June 28, 1914, in an outpost of the Austro-Hungarian Empire called Sarajevo. It would officially end nearly five years later. Unofficially, however, it has never ended: Many of the horrors we live with today are rooted in the First World War.
The Great War left millions of civilians and soldiers maimed or dead. It also saw the creation of new technologies of destruction: tanks, planes, and submarines; machine guns and field artillery; poison gas and chemical warfare. It introduced U-boat packs and strategic bombing, unrestricted war on civilians and mistreatment of prisoners. But the war changed our world in far more fundamental ways than these.
In its wake, empires toppled, monarchies fell, and whole populations lost their national identities. As political systems and geographic boundaries were realigned, the social order shifted seismically. Manners and cultural norms; literature and the arts; education and class distinctions; all underwent a vast sea change.
©1994 Martin Gilbert (P)2020 TantorWhat listeners say about The First World War
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-09-2023
Great depth whether covering the politics, military strategy, tactics or individuals. Balanced focus across the many theatres.
Recommended for a reader interested in the Great War due its range,depth & detail. The narrator bring gravitas to the story and is better slightly sped up.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kay L.
- 03-01-2024
Woeful narration. Good account but a tad “British forces-centric”
I was disappointed that the role of Australia’s General Sir John Monash in defeating the Germans in the field in mid-1918 was not even mentioned.
General Monash devised and executed the first-ever integrated air, tank, artillery and infantry attack in history at the Battle of Le Hamel. If successful, it would thwart German plans to capture French transportation hub Amiens and enable unimpeded ferrying of German troops and supplies to the Western Front.
The battle took place on 4 July 1918. It was over in 93 minutes during which the troops under General Monash’s command advanced two miles for 300 men killed. If traditional trench warfare methods had been applied, it is estimated that the Battle of Le Hamel would have taken 8 months and the troops advanced two miles for 35,000 killed.
King George V himself insisted on travelling to Australian Corps headquarters in France to knight General Monash.
So it is surprising that the book doesn’t even mention General Monash or his pivotal contributions. I recommend listening to Peter FitzSimons’ “Monash’s Masterpiece” for a detailed account of the Battle of Le Hamel of July 1918 and other victories under Monash’s command that drove the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line and undoubtedly contributed to the Armistice of 11 November 1918.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- darren riordan
- 08-11-2023
Great book but poor narration
Great book but poor narration. Would suggest to speed up to 1.2 for a better listen .
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 12-02-2023
Review below states that the narrator is no good
The narrators pitch/tone can be easily changed slightly by adjusting playback speeds. This is one of the greatest books written in detail about the Great War.
Don't miss out on this because of something so minor.
Brilliant book and thank you.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Leigh
- 30-04-2023
Well written
Well written and well told but required an adjustment of the speed to appeal to my ears.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- James NZ
- 03-12-2021
Great book but poor narration
Narration is flat and monotone. The story is gripping and of immense importance, shame it isn't given a better telling.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tim Jones
- 27-02-2021
This is as comprehensive as it can be.
Brilliant overview of a calamity. I could have listened for 60 hrs but am pleased to know much more about the complexity of this huge tragedy & how it fed into so many aspects of WW2
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nicholas P.
- 23-07-2023
Very well written
Education and in-depth
A very complicated history we all share!
So brave was that era!
Hope war like this never happens again
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brett
- 23-08-2023
Brilliant
That was brilliant! As the great grandson of 4 Australian veterans of the Great War who also went on to served during the Second World War, this was a thrilling read. Very well read and the detail brought the events to life. Thank you, Audible and Lest We Forget.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Paul J Edwards
- 01-07-2024
Most boring reader ever
Need to fall asleep quickly, download this book and drift away in moments as the readers voice refuses to show any emotion.
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