Writer-narrator John Norwich brings a personal touch and a lifetime of experience to this breezy popular history of France from Roman times to the end of WWII. His voice, while aged, is pleasing and listenable. His narration is effortlessly clear, expressive, and well paced. His general manner is that of a cultured man of intelligence and learning who is indulging himself in a project close to his heart. Quotations, however, sound different from his narrative voice and tone--as if read by someone else or at another time--which is a bit distracting. While the audiobook is not scholarly, it is informative as well as enjoyable. As Norwich notes, it was written and read with love, a love of France that comes through to the listener.
Pub Date: 2018
Duration: 15 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN:
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Historian Tracy Borman's research and narration offer a riveting account of the battle for succession following the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Borman narrates her careful investigation of the events leading to the end of the Tudor dynasty and the rise of the Stuarts. Borman sounds like a favorite professor. Her voice is well modulated, and her pace makes the history easy to follow--no matter how little the listener knows of the period. Elizabeth's unwillingness to name a successor caused concern for Britain's future. The accepted version suggests that on her deathbed she named James as her chosen heir. But Borman's research uncovers evidence that this never happened. In fascinating detail, Borman lays out the facts found in official letters, revisionist hearsay, and intelligent speculation.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668157800
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This audiobook recounts the extraordinary true story of a small group of women imprisoned in Ravensbrück, the Nazis' only all-female concentration camp during WWII. The powerful account traces their harrowing ordeal with relentless brutality, including starvation, forced labor, inhumane medical experiments, and extreme overcrowding. Narrator Lisa Flanagan delivers a performance so overwhelming that it will bring tears to the eyes of listeners. But as well as she chronicles the women's lives in Ravensbrück, Flanagan adeptly shifts gears when explaining their continued efforts after the war to document Nazi atrocities to ensure their sacrifices would not be forgotten. No matter the topic, Flanagan's exceptional range of inflection and emotions comes through. This audiobook is a poignant reminder of their resilience, courage, and fighting spirit.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217078790
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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