Male authors and male voices dominate the many audiobooks devoted to Napoleon, which are usually shaped by his military and political history. Here, Ruth Scurr, one of our most original and engaging historians, reconstructs Napoleon's life from the perspective of the gardens he kept, first, as a military cadet and, later, when he was in exile on Elba and St. Helena. In surprising ways, gardens figure in Napoleon's life--in particular, his marriage to Josephine. Tanya Cubric's rich British-inflected narration captures with particular spirit and grace a portrait that has been many times depicted, but comes to life here fresh and richly highlighted and shaded. Cubric summons an atmosphere and a degree of immediacy few biographies achieve.
Pub Date: June 15, 2021
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593501696
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Manchester’s incisive writing and Parker’s friendly narration make this a compelling package on the life of 20th century icon General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964). No student of modern times can ignore this vain, mercurial soldier whose battlefield brilliance conserved the lives of his soldiers even as they cut their opponents to ribbons. Listening to Parker, one imagines a jovial uncle delivering a slap on the back and sitting down to describe war experiences in a rich voice filled with humor and pathos. He pronounces Japanese names, New Guinea cities and American slang with effortless ease. The “you-are-there” quality grabs and holds. This is a carefully done, seamless audio presentation.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An unwilling and divided nation gradually comes together to face fascism at home and abroad.
Narrator Gary Tiedemann brings impact and immediacy to this panoramic history of the rapid rise of fascism in the 1930s and the United States' slow awakening to its dangers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, facing the Depression and the country’s prevailing isolationism, is depicted as expedient and reluctant to act. America, too, had its own share of racists and ideologues. With calculated restraint, Tiedemann tracks a history of international aggression and American violence that is still shocking today. Hitchcock’s powerful narrative highlights a small number of journalists and diplomats who sounded early warnings and, like Roosevelt eventually did, rose to meet the challenges that fascism posed.
An unwilling and divided nation gradually comes together to face fascism at home and abroad.Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2026
Duration: 29 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797199153
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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