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A History of the World

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A History of the World

By: Andrew Marr
Narrated by: Andrew Marr, David Timson
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About this listen

Fresh, exciting and vivid, this is popular history at its very best.

Our understanding of world history is changing, as new discoveries are made on all the continents and old prejudices are being challenged. In this truly global journey, political journalist Andrew Marr revisiets some of the traditional epic stories, from classical Greece and Rome to the rise of Napoleon, but surrounds them with less familiar material, from Peru to the Ukraine, China to the Caribbean. He looks at cultures that have failed and vanished, as well as the origins of today’s superpowers, and finds surprising echoes and parallels across vast distances and epochs.

A History of the World is a book about the great change-makers of history and their times, people such as Cleopatra, Genghis Khan, Galileo and Mao, but it is also a book about us. For ‘the better we understand how rulers lose touch with reality, or why revolutions produce dictators more often than they produce happiness, or why some parts of the world are richer than others, the easier it is to understand our own times.’

©2012 Andrew Marr (P)2012 Macmillan Digital Audio Civilization World Ancient History Imperialism Self-Determination Thought-Provoking Funny Military War Refugee Ancient Greece France Crusade Interwar Period

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Editor reviews

In a feat of historical writing, author Andrew Marr's A History of the World is wholly informative and entirely entertaining. Now adapted into a major BBC One TV series, this historical audiobook has been narrated by BBC radio broadcaster and English actor David Timson, with an introduction by the author. The scope of Marr's research is extraordinary. Listeners are taken on an adventure through the ancient and less well-known civilisations as well as the influential figures who contributed significantly to life as it's known today. Available now from Audible.
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The book takes you almost seamlessly from the first humans to modern days. Giving enough information to inform but not too much as to get bogged down. A good introduction to a huge variety of historical periods. Not just European and western history either, the African and far eastern (The Chinese sections particularly) are remarkably informative and will be new to many western amateur historians.



David Timson provides a clear and emotive narration from start to finish. Top class.

A wide ranging and excellent intro

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really enjoyed this, gives an informative approach and some nice facts and figures alongside personal stories and high level trends.

found the delivery a little slow for my taste. but very professional

great!

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An interesting insight into our history and the lessons we've taken and the ones we haven't.

Excellent History

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don't try to rush this book. enjoy it over days or better weeks and let it sink in

you need to have lot of curiosity to enjoy this bo

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If you could sum up A History of the World in three words, what would they be?

comprehensive without being overwhelming and incredibly well researched. Gripping, thoughful

Who was your favorite character and why?

Andrew Marr - intelligent, honest and open

Have you listened to any of Andrew Marr and David Timson ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I gave the performance 4 starts simply because compared to Andew's reading, David's feels a little more subdued and loses out. however, it is a very well read book

Any additional comments?

the book starts by a very honest and open preface by Andrew Marr read by himself. He is unpretentious and is anything but a stuffy historian. Despite that, the book is very well researched, up-to-date with the modern understanding and archeological finds. In addition to interesting facts, it gives the feeling of coherence to the story and presents a rounded view of the history of us as people that closely resonated with mine. I have been wanted to broaden my historical knowledge but whatever book I read reviews for was either comprehensive and dull or too supercilious. this book is neither so I highly recommend. Shame that is was not Andew reading out all of it but David is very very good

so so so well done

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Enjoyed very much listening. I'll listen it for a second time and recommend it to friends. Excellent overall view of world History. Met my expectations. Reduced reading speed to 75 pc, found it a good pace for non native English speakers.

Very interesting and well written

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A good view of history from the start of civilisation to modern times. Giving good views to how things could be different if certain people didn't do what they did.

Good overall history

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What made the experience of listening to A History of the World the most enjoyable?

A well paced and fascinating journey through time. Witty but not whimsical, Andrew Marr has a gift for writing.

Have you listened to any of Andrew Marr and David Timson ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Superb narration.

Any additional comments?

Loved it so much - I'm buying his other books!

Brilliant - I now feel educated!

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I'm 19 years old , I've obviously heard all the famous names throughout my life , but now I know what they did

Fantastic book

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Great book that gives an interesting summary of the entire history of humans. worth a read.

Great

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