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Peter the Great
- His Life and World
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 43 hrs and 38 mins
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Publisher's summary
This superbly told story brings to life one of the most remarkable rulers––and men––in all of history and conveys the drama of his life and world. The Russia of Peter's birth was very different from the Russia his energy, genius, and ruthlessness shaped. Crowned co-Tsar as a child of ten, after witnessing bloody uprisings in the streets of Moscow, he would grow up propelled by an unquenchable curiosity, everywhere looking, asking, tinkering, and learning, fired by Western ideas.
We see Peter in his 20s traveling "incognito" with his ambassadors to the courts of Europe; as the victorious soldier proclaimed Emperor; as the simple workman at his forge; and as the visionary statesman who single-handedly created a formidable world power. Impetuous and stubborn, bawdy and stern, relentless in his perseverance, he was capable of the greatest generosity and the greatest cruelty.
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Featured Article: The Best Biography Audiobooks to Educate, Fascinate, and Inspire
The best biographies are ranked not only by the scale and skill of their writing, but also by the strength of their subjects. In the audiobook world, these selections are also judged for the quality of their narrative performances, making those that rise to the top all the more excellent. From lighthearted entertainment to inspirational origin stories, these titles represent the best biography audiobooks now ready for your listening pleasure.
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- Narrated by: Paul Michael
- Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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General Alex Dumas is a man almost unknown today, yet his story is strikingly familiar—because his son, the novelist Alexandre Dumas, used his larger-than-life feats as inspiration for such classics as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
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The story behind the greatest novelist of all time
- By Melinda on 01-13-13
By: Tom Reiss
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The White King
- Charles I, Traitor, Murderer, Martyr
- By: Leanda de Lisle
- Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Less than 40 years after England's golden age under Elizabeth I, the country was at war with itself. Split between loyalty to the Crown or to Parliament, war raged on English soil. Its casualties were immense. At the head of the disintegrating kingdom was King Charles I. In this vivid portrait - informed by previously unseen manuscripts, including royal correspondence between the king and his queen - Leanda de Lisle depicts a man who was principled and brave but fatally blinkered.
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Enlightening Stuart history
- By Adeliese Baumann on 01-25-18
By: Leanda de Lisle
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Defenders of the Faith
- Charles V, Suleyman the Magnificent, and the Battle for Europe, 1520-1536
- By: James Reston Jr.
- Narrated by: Jim Meskimen
- Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins
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In the best-selling Warriors of God and Dogs of God, James Reston Jr. limned two epochal conflicts between Islam and Christendom. Here he examines the ultimate battle in that centuries-long war, which found Europe at its most vulnerable and Islam on the attack. This drama was propelled by two astonishing young sovereigns: Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Turkish sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Though they represented two colliding worlds, they were remarkably similar.
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Good account of interesting period of history
- By ItalCali on 03-11-22
By: James Reston Jr.
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The Black Prince
- England's Greatest Medieval Warrior
- By: Michael Jones
- Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
- Length: 16 hrs and 43 mins
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As a child, he was given his own suit of armor; at the age of 16, he helped defeat the French at Crecy. At Poitiers, in 1356, his victory over King John II of France forced the French into a humiliating surrender that marked the zenith of England's dominance in the Hundred Years War. As lord of Aquitaine, he ruled a vast swathe of territory across the west and southwest of France, holding a magnificent court at Bordeaux that mesmerized the brave but unruly Gascon nobility. He was Edward of Woodstock, eldest son of Edward III, and better known to posterity as "the Black Prince".
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Outstanding history
- By Scott on 02-17-19
By: Michael Jones
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Isabella of Castile
- Europe's First Great Queen
- By: Giles Tremlett
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 19 hrs and 33 mins
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In 1474, a 23-year-old woman ascended the throne of Castile, the largest and strongest kingdom in Spain. Ahead of her lay the considerable challenge not only of being a young female ruler in an overwhelmingly male-dominated world but also of reforming a major European kingdom that was riddled with crime, corruption, and violent political factionism. Her pivotal reign was long and transformative, uniting Spain and setting the stage for its golden era of global dominance.
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Enlightening
- By Jean on 03-07-17
By: Giles Tremlett
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América
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- By: Robert Goodwin
- Narrated by: Thom Rivera
- Length: 20 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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At the conclusion of the American Revolution, half the modern United States was part of the vast Spanish Empire. The year after Columbus' great voyage of discovery, in 1492, he claimed Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands for Spain. For the next 300 years, thousands of proud Spanish conquistadors and their largely forgotten Mexican allies went in search of glory and riches from Florida to California. Many died; few triumphed. Some were cruel; some were curious; some were kind. Missionaries and priests yearned to harvest Indian souls for God through baptism and Christian teaching.
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A Narration That is Difficult to Follow
- By Amazon Customer on 05-24-19
By: Robert Goodwin
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Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom
- China, the West, and the Epic Story of the Taiping Civil War
- By: Stephen R. Platt
- Narrated by: Angela Lin
- Length: 17 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Stephen R. Platt is widely respected for his incisive nonfiction, particularly in regard to his knowledge and understanding of China. With Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom, Platt details the absorbing narrative of the Taiping Rebellion, which resulted in the loss of 20 million lives. Occurring in the 1850s, this is the story of a cultural movement characterized by intriguing personages such as influential military strategist Zeng Guofan and brilliant Taiping leader Hong Rengan.
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InTOLerable Reader
- By Adam on 07-07-12
By: Stephen R. Platt
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Sicily
- An Island at the Crossroads of History
- By: John Julius Norwich
- Narrated by: Michael Healy
- Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins
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"Sicily," said Goethe, "is the key to everything." It is the largest island in the Mediterranean, the stepping-stone between Europe and Africa, the link between the Latin West and the Greek East. Sicily's strategic location has tempted Roman emperors, French princes, and Spanish kings. The subsequent struggles to conquer and keep it have played crucial roles in the rise and fall of the world's most powerful dynasties.
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DISAPPOINTING
- By SRdto on 11-22-16
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The Borgias and Their Enemies
- 1431-1519
- By: Christopher Hibbert
- Narrated by: John Telfer
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
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The name Borgia is synonymous with the corruption, nepotism, and greed that were rife in Renaissance Italy. The powerful, voracious Rodrigo Borgia, better known to history as Pope Alexander VI, was the central figure of the dynasty. Two of his seven papal offspring also rose to power and fame. The Borgias were notorious for seizing power, wealth, land, and titles through bribery, marriage, and murder. The story of the family's dramatic rise from its Spanish roots to the highest position in Italian society is an absorbing tale.
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Covers the bases, but falls a little flat.
- By Chap Walker on 06-16-13
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What listeners say about Peter the Great
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Susan
- 11-06-11
detailed history
this was one of those books I'd read many years before, and found it to be wonderfully interesting, and got me started liking history in general. Peter was such an intriguing character - and I was glad to see it offered in audible form. It is, however quite detailed, and if you are not interested in how military battles commence, then maybe this is not for you. I do recommend it however, for its insight into not just Peter, but Russian life at the time.
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18 people found this helpful
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- Winding Cove
- 08-26-15
Most annoying narrator ever.
Is there anything you would change about this book?
The narration was so terrible, I had to steal myself before returning to the book each time. It's unfortunate, as the story itself is well-written, engrossing, and informative of this period in history.
What other book might you compare Peter the Great to and why?
I loved Catherine the Great by this same author and narrated by Mark Deakins. I was hoping to derive similar enjoyment from this book.
How could the performance have been better?
The author has the most nasally voice imaginable. Little to no variation in his inflection and words run together and fade off at the end of sentences making it a chore to understand what he's even saying.
If this book were a movie would you go see it?
Yes.
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12 people found this helpful
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- Lisa
- 10-21-12
Narration is BORING!
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
Had a hard time understanding the narrators british accent. His reading was so boring I fell asleep several times.
What did you like best about this story?
Interesting take on Russian history
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Frederick Davidson?
ANYONE!
Do you think Peter the Great needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No. It's pretty comprehensive.
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3 people found this helpful
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- B. Beck
- 06-24-12
Annoying Delivery
What did you love best about Peter the Great?
Masterfully written, this audiobook has everything going for it -- a rich history full of interesting characters and a sweeping saga using primary sources so I could hear the rhythm of the language.
What did you like best about this story?
Certainly not the narrator
Would you be willing to try another one of Frederick Davidson’s performances?
Never
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No... 28 hours????
Any additional comments?
I must add my opinion that the narrator ruined the experience for me. If there were an alternative, even a decent abridged version, I would have gladly jumped ship!
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3 people found this helpful
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- Leslie
- 03-24-12
If you can get past the narrator...
Would you consider the audio edition of Peter the Great to be better than the print version?
Robert K. Massie has a rich but direct style of writing, making the audio version easy to follow. The audio version is certainly better for the advantage of hands-free enjoyment of this wonderful book. It's a joy to put in my ear buds and go on a walk, a run on the treadmill, do the dishes, rake leaves, etc., all while being happily entertained with a fascinating and thorough history of the life and times of Peter the Great. There are times when I'd like to take a look at the names of people and places in print, just to see how they're spelled. The narrator frequently drops his voice so that words or phrases become inaudible.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Of course, Peter himself. Intelligent, inquisitive, and quirky -- a perfect hero for the 21st century!
Would you be willing to try another one of Frederick Davidson’s performances?
Absolutely not! He reads as though the material is a dirty rag he can't wait to dispose of.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
The Russian Ruler Who Raised the Iron Curtain 250 Years Before it Fell!
Any additional comments?
Robert K. Massie is a wonderful writer. I'd read anything he writes. He never bogs the reader down with his own ego, i.e., trying to impress with inventive use of words. He has an uncomplicated, declarative style that moves right along with wonderful description and easy-to-follow factual detail. He loves his subject matter, and you feel his affection for what he writes. An excellent historian! An excellent writer!
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3 people found this helpful
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- chris
- 03-01-13
Review
Would you listen to Peter the Great again? Why?
Yes. It's a cool story
Who was your favorite character and why?
Czar Peter. He was extraordinary.
What didn’t you like about Frederick Davidson’s performance?
He has a lisp that is difficult to get over.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No- it's like 40+ hours long...
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2 people found this helpful
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- joan
- 02-14-16
so much more than I ever wanted to know
If you want a "thorough" biography, this one's for you. But it was so much more than I cared about that I gave up.
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- World Wide Reader
- 08-28-19
Great book, marginal recording
I was warned in the reviews that the recording was poor. But I went ahead anyway. I was going to study the book, so I planned to read a hardcopy as I listened. That went well, because when I had some question, I had the text right there to resolve it. However, I can imagine that, when only listening, it might be a problem. And it's a long and complicated book; it’s not an easy listen.
The book was published in 1980, and the recording was made in 1991. My theory is that it was made on tape. And when it was turned into a digital recording, it was compressed to reduce the tape noise. Often, the end of a sentence or a phrase is cut short; not cut out, but cut short, meaning ending a word in a way that not many people would pronounce it.
Further, the British accent is not easy.
It’s a great book, and I very much recommend it. For my purposes, it was fine. But I recommend that you listen to the full sample, and then ask yourself whether you would be happy after 43 hours, 855 pages.
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- Lynn
- 05-07-12
Peter the Great in Context
Robert Massie has written a number of great books including Castles of Steel, Dreadnought, and the Romanovs. My favorite is his volumes is Nicholas and Alexandra which held my interest throughout. I most recently completed his current best seller Catherine the Great. The only Massie book that had not read was Peter the Great (1981). Last week I returned to that biography. Better late than never! It proved entertaining and informative. Many have reviewed this book and there is little left to say. However, as with Massie’s other books, this is not really a biography of Peter the Great so much as the life of Peter the Great placed in historical context. There is a wealth of European and Russian history here occurring in the 17th and 18th centuries that the reader gets for “free.” This observation could be made about Catherine the Great. If you have not read after Massie, this is a good time to start. My favorites are Nicholas and Alexandra, Catherine the Great, and then Peter the Great. That said, I encountered problems with the audio in the first portion of the Audible download. I suspect it was a problem with my downloading, but it cleared in the later sections (2-4).
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- T. Anderson
- 08-23-17
A wonderful story, but ...
If you could sum up Peter the Great in three words, what would they be?
Larger than Life!
What did you like best about this story?
Peter Massie writes a great STORY. Story is part of history, of course; but if you want a concise history of Peter the Great with the downside of his policies included, go to Wikipedia. Meanwhile, never was history told with more power to fascinate! Also try his Catherine the Great.
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