To Hell and Back cover image

To Hell and Back

Europe, 1914-1949

 Listen to a sample

Get 30 days of Standard free

€6.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for €0.00
More purchase options

To Hell and Back

By: Ian Kershaw
Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
Try for €0.00

€6.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for €29.66

Buy Now for €29.66

Season's Savings | 0.99 €/mo for 3 months

6.99 €/month thereafter - terms apply. Cancel monthly.

In the summer of 1914, most of Europe plunged into a war so catastrophic that it unhinged the continent's politics and beliefs in a way that took generations to recover from.

The disaster terrified its survivors, shocked that a civilization that had blandly assumed itself to be a model for the rest of the world had collapsed into a chaotic savagery beyond any comparison.

In 1939, Europeans would initiate a second conflict that managed to be even worse - a war in which the killing of civilians was central and which culminated in the Holocaust.

To Hell and Back tells this story with humanity, flair and originality. Kershaw gives a compelling narrative of events, but he also wrestles with the most difficult issues that the events raise - with what it meant for the Europeans who initiated and lived through such fearful times - and what this means for us.

©2015 Ian Kershaw (P)2015 Audible, Ltd Europe Military Modern
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Continue the series
The Global Age cover image
The Global Age By: Ian Kershaw
All stars
Most relevant
The narrator even changes his accent, when foreigners are quoted. That was fun, though sometimes the impersonations Drew to heavyli on stereotypes.

Classic historical narrative

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very recommended for people who have no or only partial knowledge of the time. The book gives a very coherent summary for someone who wants a broad overview.
Though for people who already read or even studied the period it may appear too superficial.

Very good summary of the period.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Allerfeinste Geschichtsschreibung aus dem Hause Kershaw mit dem zweiten Dreißigjährigen Krieg als Ihrem faszinierend-abgründigen Gegenstand. Und dieser Krieg war der Vater oder doch zumindest der Patenonkel so vieler Dinge: Enorme Entwicklungsschübe in Technik und Industrialisierung, Revolutionen und Bürgerkriege, wissenschaftliche Paradigmenwechsel, fiebrig-produktive kulturelle Vielfalt, Verrohung der politischen Kultur, Desillusionierung und ein ganz neues Lebensgefühl das Ausdruck fand in Literatur, Kunst und Musik, Aufstieg und erbitterter Kampf zwischen totalitären Ideologien und Herrschaftssystemen, Hyperinflation, Massenarbeitslosigkeit und Große Depression, Völkermord und Weltenbrand und schließlich kaltkriegerische Aufteilung der Welt zwischen zwei Machtblöcken. Ian Kershaw erzählt spannend, vornehm, in einer glasklaren Sprache mit großer Erklärungskraft. Die besten Erzähler bringen konkrete Schicksale und weite Horizonte, große Entwicklungstendenzen und deren Auswirkungen auf das Leben der Menschen die hineingeboren waren in dieses "Zeitalter der Extreme" zusammen. Für meine Ohren souverän gelesen.

Des Krieges Hunde entfesseln

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Gerade in Zeiten wiedererstarkenden radikalen nationalen Tendenzen ist diese umfangreiche Mahnung ein Muss. Gerade wegen der Detailtiefe und der Betrachtung aller Länder in dieser kriegerischen Phase habe ich viel dazu gelernt. Vor allem aber: nur mit einem starken Europa wird es keinen Krieg mehr geben...

Aus der Geschichte lernen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The narrator, otherwise fairly professional, uses fake accents for non-English people, which might be useful in literary productions to distinguish a vast cast of people but is absolutely unnecessary and offensive in this non-fiction work. Accents are very often used to denigrate people. But these people did NOT speak English and so did not have an accent. Also, the audio quality has its ups and downs.

Narration issues

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.