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Caesar and Christ
- The Story of Civilization, Volume 3
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The third volume of Will Durant's Pulitzer Prize-winning series, Caesar and Christ chronicles the history of Roman civilization and of Christianity from their beginnings to A.D. 325.
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The Renaissance
- A History of Civilization in Italy from 1304 - 1576 AD, The Story of Civilization, Volume 5
- Written by: Will Durant
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In this masterful work, listeners will encounter: the poets Petrarch and Boccaccio, the fathers of the Renaissance; the paintings, sculptures, and architecture of Milan, Florence, and Venice; the life and accomplishments of Leonardo DaVinci; the Catholic church and the popes of Avignon and Rome; the politicians and philosophers of Italy, including the Borgia family, Julius II, and Machiavelli; the Italian Wars, the conflicts with France, and the country's decline.
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The Life of Greece
- The Story of Civilization, Volume 2
- Written by: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 32 hrs and 36 mins
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Here Durant tells the whole story of Greece from the days of Crete's vast Aegean empire to the final extirpation of the last remnants of Greek liberty, crushed under the heel of an implacably forward-marching Rome. The dry minutiae of battles and sieges, of tortuous statecraft of tyrant and king, get minor emphasis in what is preeminently a vivid recreation of Greek culture, brought to the listener through the medium of supple, vigorous prose.
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The Reformation
- A History of European Civilization from Wycliffe to Calvin, 1300 - 1564 (The Story of Civilization, Book 6)
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An engrossing volume on the European Reformation by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Will Durant. The sixth volume of Durant's acclaimed Story of Civilization, The Reformationchronicles the history of European civilization from 1300 to 1564.
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Our Oriental Heritage
- The Story of Civilization, Volume 1
- Written by: Will Durant
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The first volume of Will Durant's Pulitzer Prize-winning series, Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume I chronicles the early history of Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia.
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A balanced view of the orient
- By Amit Mittal on 11-03-20
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The Age of Reason Begins
- A History of European Civilization in the Period of Shakespeare, Bacon, Montaigne, Rembrandt, Galileo, and Descartes: 1558 - 1648: The Story of Civilization, Book 7
- Written by: Will Durant, Ariel Durant
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 34 hrs and 51 mins
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The Age of Reason Begins brings together a fascinating network of stories in the discussion of the bumpy road toward the Enlightenment. This is the age of great monarchs and greater artists - on the one hand, Elizabeth I of England, Philip II of Spain, and Henry IV of France; on the other, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Montaigne, and Rembrandt. It also encompasses the heyday of Francis Bacon, Galileo, Giordano Bruno, and Descartes, the fathers of modern science and philosophy.
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Caesar and Christ
- The Story of Civilization, Volume 3
- Written by: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 36 hrs and 31 mins
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The third volume of Will Durant's Pulitzer Prize-winning series, Caesar and Christ chronicles the history of Roman civilization and of Christianity from their beginnings to A.D. 325.
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The Renaissance
- A History of Civilization in Italy from 1304 - 1576 AD, The Story of Civilization, Volume 5
- Written by: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 37 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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In this masterful work, listeners will encounter: the poets Petrarch and Boccaccio, the fathers of the Renaissance; the paintings, sculptures, and architecture of Milan, Florence, and Venice; the life and accomplishments of Leonardo DaVinci; the Catholic church and the popes of Avignon and Rome; the politicians and philosophers of Italy, including the Borgia family, Julius II, and Machiavelli; the Italian Wars, the conflicts with France, and the country's decline.
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The Life of Greece
- The Story of Civilization, Volume 2
- Written by: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 32 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Here Durant tells the whole story of Greece from the days of Crete's vast Aegean empire to the final extirpation of the last remnants of Greek liberty, crushed under the heel of an implacably forward-marching Rome. The dry minutiae of battles and sieges, of tortuous statecraft of tyrant and king, get minor emphasis in what is preeminently a vivid recreation of Greek culture, brought to the listener through the medium of supple, vigorous prose.
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The Reformation
- A History of European Civilization from Wycliffe to Calvin, 1300 - 1564 (The Story of Civilization, Book 6)
- Written by: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 50 hrs and 8 mins
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An engrossing volume on the European Reformation by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Will Durant. The sixth volume of Durant's acclaimed Story of Civilization, The Reformationchronicles the history of European civilization from 1300 to 1564.
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Our Oriental Heritage
- The Story of Civilization, Volume 1
- Written by: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Robin Field
- Length: 50 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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The first volume of Will Durant's Pulitzer Prize-winning series, Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume I chronicles the early history of Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia.
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A balanced view of the orient
- By Amit Mittal on 11-03-20
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The Age of Reason Begins
- A History of European Civilization in the Period of Shakespeare, Bacon, Montaigne, Rembrandt, Galileo, and Descartes: 1558 - 1648: The Story of Civilization, Book 7
- Written by: Will Durant, Ariel Durant
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 34 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Age of Reason Begins brings together a fascinating network of stories in the discussion of the bumpy road toward the Enlightenment. This is the age of great monarchs and greater artists - on the one hand, Elizabeth I of England, Philip II of Spain, and Henry IV of France; on the other, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Montaigne, and Rembrandt. It also encompasses the heyday of Francis Bacon, Galileo, Giordano Bruno, and Descartes, the fathers of modern science and philosophy.
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The Age of Voltaire
- A History of Civlization in Western Europe from 1715 to 1756, with Special Emphasis on the Conflict between Religion and Philosophy
- Written by: Will Durant, Ariel Durant
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 42 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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The Age of Voltaire, the ninth volume of The Story of Civilization, is an in-depth examination of France and England in the first half of the 18th century.
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The Age of Louis XIV
- The Story of Civilization, Book 8
- Written by: Will Durant, Ariel Durant
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 36 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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The Age of Louis XIV is the biography of a period (1648 - 1715) that Spengler considered the apex of modern European civilization. "Some centuries hence," Frederick the Great correctly predicted to Voltaire, "they will translate the good authors of the age of Pericles and Augustus." Those authors are lovingly treated here.
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Rousseau and Revolution
- The Story of Civilization, Book 10
- Written by: Will Durant, Ariel Durant
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 57 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Rousseau and Revolution, the 10th volume of the Story of Civilization, ranges over a Europe in ferment, but centers on the passionate rebel-philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the great exponent of the romantic impulse toward self-exploration and social revolt, who contended with the great rationalist Voltaire for the mind of Europe.
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The Age of Napoleon
- A History of European Civilization from 1789 to 1815: The Story of Civilization, Book 11
- Written by: Will Durant, Ariel Durant
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 43 hrs and 59 mins
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The Age of Napoleon, the 11th and final volume of the Story of Civilization, surveys the amazing chain of events that wrenched Europe out of the Enlightenment and into the age of democracy. In this masterful work, listeners will encounter the French Revolution from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotining of the king; and the revolution's leaders - Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre, and Saint-Just - all cut down by the reign of terror they inaugurated.
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The Complete Essays of Montaigne
- Written by: Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, Donald M. Frame (translator)
- Narrated by: Christopher Lane
- Length: 49 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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“A faithful translation is rare; a translation which preserves intact the original text is very rare; a perfect translation of Montaigne appears impossible. Yet Donald Frame has realized this feat. One does not seem to be reading a translation, so smooth and easy is the style; at each moment, one seems to be listening to Montaigne himself - the freshness of his ideas, the unexpected choice of words. Frame has kept everything.” (Andre Maurois, The New York Times Book Review)
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The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
- A History of Nazi Germany
- Written by: William L. Shirer
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 57 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Since its publication in 1960, William L. Shirer’s monumental study of Hitler’s German empire has been widely acclaimed as the definitive record of the 20th century’s blackest hours. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich offers an unparalleled and thrillingly told examination of how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. With millions of copies in print around the globe, it has attained the status of a vital and enduring classic.
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Almost an Anthropological Account of an Aeon!
- By Girish B Hukkeri on 07-03-20
Publisher's Summary
A History of Medieval Civilization (Christian, Islamic, and Judaic) from Constantine to Dante, AD 325 - 1300
The fourth volume in Will Durant's Pulitzer Prize-winning series, The Age of Faith surveys the medieval achievements and modern significance of Christian, Islamic, and Judaic life and culture. Like the other volumes in the Story of Civilization series, this is a self-contained work, which at the same time fits into a comprehensive history of mankind. It includes the dramatic stories of St. Augustine, Hypatia, Justinian, Mohammed, Harun al-Rashid, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Maimonides, St. Francis, St. Thomas Aquinas, Roger Bacon, and many others, all in the perspective of integrated history. The greatest love stories in literature - of Héloise and Abélard, of Dante and Beatrice - are here retold with enthralling scholarship.
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What listeners say about The Age of Faith, Volume 4
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- Mike From Mesa
- 24-08-14
Illumination on the dark ages
This book is volume 4 in the 11 volume Story of Civilization by Will (and later Ariel) Durant. It covers the approximately 750 years from the fall of Rome through the very beginnings of the Renaissance in the areas encompassing Eastern and Western Europe (including Russia), the Middle East and Northern Africa. It does not cover events in eastern Asia (China, India, Mongolia and other related areas) although it is clear about the influence of those regions on the development of what we now think of as Western Civilization.
The book is very long (the Audible version is more than 61 hours in length) and the breadth of things covered is simply staggering including the early development of Christianity, early Judaic and Islamic civilizations, the Byzantine world, Feudalism, Chivalry, the Crusades, the development of the Catholic Church, the regional structuring of Eastern and Western Europe into what are now the counties of Europe, the influence of Jewish and Islamic culture on Western culture, the rise of Papal power over secular, the Medieval philosophers, the reopening of education to the populace and the rise of what Mr Durant refers to as the Era of Reason. Along the way we are treated to a virtual smorgasbord of information.
Here we learn the origin of many of our common use English words (for example, dollar, grocer, credit, debit, cash, wedding, Latin Quarter and many, many more), we meet the saint and sinners of The Dark Ages, the origins of Medieval banking, the origins of some current city names and a wealth of other information. Along the way we not only are presented with new information but often we find that much that we already knew was wrong. For me, one of the very instructive parts of the book was the description of Feudal Society and here I learned that much that is current common knowledge about the rights and obligations of Barons, Knights, merchants and serfs was, in fact, wrong. Here also we see how and why Feudalism lost its hold on Europe and how the cities and the merchants grabbed and held power, slowing reducing the influence and power of the Feudal Lords, including the monarchs.
While I personally found parts of the book hard to get through I found other parts simply fascinating and often found myself listening to this book with the same interest and zeal as I might listen to a best selling thriller. Some stories, like that of Abelard and Heloise, simply break the heart. Others, like that of Dante, are inspiring and often humorous and the most important thing I learned from this book is that things were often not as I thought them to be. This book, written more than 60 years ago, was like a breath of fresh air clearing out the cobwebs of misinformation I had stored in my mind.
The book is narrated by Stefan Rudnicki and I was at first disappointed that it was not narrated by Grover Gardner, as the previous volume was. However Mr Rudnicki did a wonderful job and, because parts of the book are in Latin, German and Italian (with translations into English), I found myself appreciative that Mr Rudnicki was able to speak the languages in question so well. His voice and pronunciation seemed to perfectly fit the material.
In summary this volume is simply wonderful and, although you may find parts boring, as I did, you will likely find parts enthralling and very, very informative. If you have an interest in the period which we sometimes refer to as the Dark Ages (and which Mr Durant makes clear was really a bridge into the Renaissance) you should not go wrong with this book.
26 people found this helpful
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- Gary
- 20-11-14
Medieval History is Fun and Relevant!
This book is my favorite book I've listened to all year. Most books I listen to are because I want to find our place in the universe and how we got where we are. This book does that better than any book I've listened to this year.
The author ties the pieces of the history covered together as a coherent whole. The period of time covered is from about 330 AD (Constantin's son) to about 1315 (Dante), and makes the listener understand how the events led to the making of Modern Europe and explains how we get where we are thus adding to my understanding about our place in the universe.
Most books that mention the Islamic Civilizations from 650 AD to 1300 just give comic book like characterizations. This book does not. He tells the story by first telling the story of the early Christian Church in ways which the reader can understand. I had earlier read an audible book called "Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years". I couldn't follow it, too many 'isms' unless you're an expert. Durant is expert at stepping the reader through. One thing I always like to focus on is the development of the Trinity and how it is ultimately resolved. This book shed light on that for me, for example.
I learned even more about Christianity and what they believe in and why by listening to the sections on Islam and Judaism. The author explains by comparing and contrasting between the religions (including paganism), and explaining clearly while looking within a religion.
The author has a couple of narratives that he uses to tie the book together. Perfect order leads to no liberty, tolerance of others beliefs can not exist under absolute certainty, and the part can not understand the whole.
The second half of the book covers from Charlemagne to the Italian Renaissance, which compares and contrast the progress in Western Civilization with the Islamic Civilization. The author does step away from his formula that he used in his first two Volumes. He uses a chronological approach and looks at subsets of natural entities within Europe and is less thematic than he was in his first two volumes. This allows him to be redundant and tell the same story in different places allowing the listener to relearn what he probably didn't catch the first time.
He'll spend a long time on Peter Abelard (1140 AD) which leads to a long section on Thomas Aquinas. Both allow the crack of reason into the magistracy of Faith. Once reason is permitted the relationship between man and the church will change. The Islamic civilization (at this time period) allowed theology to trump philosophy. In the end, Christian Western Europe allowed philosophy to coexist and will ultimately lead to the "Age of Reason".
As I was listening to the second half, I realized that the main character who had not been properly introduced was Dante, but he kept being mentioned. During the story, I ended up buying "Dante's Inferno", because the author would always include Dante way before he was to pop up in the story as a main character, and talks about Dante's Comedy in the final hour of the book and why it is a summary of the whole "Age of Faith". (I also bought a cheap Historical Atlas in order to follow the places better).
People, in general, avoid this period of history because it can be complex and is often thought of has not relevant to today. They are wrong, and I would strongly recommend this book.
24 people found this helpful
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- Peter Y C.
- 05-08-14
Epic
Everyone should be exposed to this time period of history through this work in seeing the transformation of people groups from savages to civilized, to organized states, of states that rise and fall, and the slow but steady growth of Europe under Christianity. The blossoming of Islam and the subsequent stumbling and fall of it's luminaries sweeps before you.
What I loved is Durant's weaving - he'll tell one epic, then another of the same time period and bring back the same characters so the reader can see how they fit in a different context.
Stefan Rudnicki's narration is awesome for this work, a steady, constant, almost invisible narration allowing the story to shine through.
Loved every part of it and I'm much richer for the listen, especially for the new understanding of our culture and how it developed, albeit slowly in fits and starts.
13 people found this helpful
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- SAMA
- 22-03-15
Dated, Biased, but Prett Good
This audiobook is produced for a book that's over 60 years old, so while it might have been the best the author could do based on their research and biases, it's still pretty thorough. If you want more details about specific religions, however, you might consider picking more contemporary materials.
11 people found this helpful
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- james
- 06-09-14
Amazing
When I first read this book, I imagined Will Durant writing with a genial smile. Now I can hear the smile with Stefan Rudnicki's excellent reading. Who wouldn't enjoy such phrases as when Durant observes that the King of Spain "allies with the infidels to counter the infidelity of his allies." These pop out every page seemingly.
It seems impossible to cover such a span of time, much less do it well. But this book delivers. And although it is over 50 years old, scholarship has not moved on too much. What makes this period interesting? Practically everything unique about western civilization emerges in this period. Nations, languages, law, commerce, universities, and more. Not enough? You have the rise and slow retrograde motion of Islamic civilization. You have the crusades, cathedrals, Constantinople, and again I could go on. It ends with Dante and the first glimmerings of the renaissance. It is a great read.
Please audible keep up the good work with this series. Give us more!
10 people found this helpful
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- E. J. Potchen
- 21-02-15
The historical roots of religious conflict.
This is a good introduction to the sources of diversity in human belief systems. A wider understanding of the differences may lead to improved opportunities in modern society.
5 people found this helpful
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- Danlando
- 10-08-15
Hits it ALL
A very well rounded history of the Middle Ages. The writing style is extremely engaging and feels more like a good story. A must read for anyone studying this period.
3 people found this helpful
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- KEVIN E FARRIS
- 09-05-15
Another stellar installment
So very worth the time for the perspective only history can give and none gives us better perspective on history than Mr. Durant.
3 people found this helpful
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- Andreas
- 25-05-15
Just great...
To all history lovers, here is a treat! Though some details probably differs from what we today "know", there are still plenty of things to learn here... Go for it. :)
2 people found this helpful
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- BVerité
- 05-05-14
Unparalleled Genius, Artist and Sage.
You should start from the beginning. It's worth it and then some. Every one of these books is a true masterpiece. The synthesis of material in this particular volume is breathtaking. Durant truly grasps every subject about which he writes. The breadth and depth of every book so far has amazed me.
I can find no one who compares with Durant's work in the History of Civilization. It will shift your perspective and open your world view. It might even make you a little more compassionate toward the human race.
These books have ruined me for any other author!!
Please Audible- give us the rest!!! I've listened to the first 3 over and over, waiting for each one! This book was such an exciting surprise when I saw it was available.
Please give us the rest!!
And thank you for making this volume available.
16 people found this helpful
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- S. Hunt
- 27-02-17
Wow ... but "wow"
Any additional comments?
A tour de force. This book covers a fascinating period of history. It does so in a tone and style that kept me gripped. I know this is a strange way to describe the eras of faith, but the rich subject matter combined with the excellence of reading kept me hooked throughout. 61 hours was not enough!
This 12 volume sequence of books by Will Durant is rich in content and extremely well put together. I categorise audio books into those I can listen to whilst working (computer programming) and those that must be reserved for non-invasive listening. These volumes definitely sit in the latter category, and are to be savoured. I found them particularly good when doing housework, commuting or merely lazing.
A book I will definitely re-listen at some point. Marvellous!
4 people found this helpful
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- Manish
- 08-06-19
Mediaeval History
This is an attempt to instil some sort of order to an era of confusion. It does this well for Europe. I did find it lacking in the history of other parts of the world particularly India and China. Even Middle Eastern history was fairly minimal. The last few hours also tends to lose its way a bit but overall persist and you will be rewarded.
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- Matthew
- 07-12-19
Excellent content
The content herein, is some of the most comprehensive any scholar is liable to find, concerning Mediaeval Civilisation and related topics.
The issue is minor: the narrator’s occasional mispronunciation of names, notably Louis as “Lewis”, and American habit of voicing numbers, such as saying “thirteen-hundred -zero-seven” instead of “thirteen oh seven”, and “.... in the year six-zero-five....” not “six hundred & five”.
I highly recommended this and other works in Will Durant’s “Civilisations” series.
1 person found this helpful