by Richard Bessel ; read by George Wilson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2005
NAZISM AND WAR is a thorough, fascinating, and chilling account of the social and political history of Nazism and Nazi Germany from the end of the Weimar Republic until the regime's collapse. Author Richard Bessel, history professor at the University of York, clearly outlines how the Nazis used paranoia and racism to fuel their rise to power, discussing the methods they used to terrorize their nation and the world. George Wilson's deep, distinctive voice is an excellent complement to the material. His performance is neither dry nor boring. To the contrary, he uses intonations and emotions to convey his outrage at the events surrounding the rise and fall of the Third Reich.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2005
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Jane Rogoyska ; read by Jane Rogoyska ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2026
This engrossing audiobook is enhanced by its author’s gifted and masterly narration.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
This is only historian Rogoyska’s second audiobook, after Surviving Katyń (2021). But as a narrator, she is as assured, as nuanced, and as captivating as any seasoned professional. Her history of Paris’ luxurious Hotel Lutetia before and during the WWII German occupation is a model of historical reconstruction and reimagining. Refugee artists and intellectuals, Gestapo officers, and returning French detainees all passed through this hotel’s revolving doors, and their histories run the spectrum from tragedy to bitter comedy. Rogoyska’s chronicle is compelling and richly detailed, and her narration is simply sublime. Her beautifully accented, finely nuanced voice is a pleasure in itself, fluent, supple, and perfectly attuned to her narrative.
This engrossing audiobook is enhanced by its author’s gifted and masterly narration.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798318572203
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: tomorrow
by Louise Brangan ; read by Louise Brangan ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2026
A beautifully written and narrated work.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Brangan narrates her own history of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland with great empathy. The laundries were in operation all over Ireland from 1922 until 1996—and were in fact locked institutions run by the Catholic Church to ostensibly save “fallen” unwed pregnant women from ruin. In her lovely Irish brogue, Brangan follows several women throughout their experiences in the laundries. Her tone becomes subtly harsher when recounting the stories of those who looked the other way while the Church continued to imprison women and girls in plain sight. The story of the laundries has been told frequently in recent years, but never quite so thoroughly and compassionately.
A beautifully written and narrated work.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 14 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668121375
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.