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The Crusades
- The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 25 hrs and 32 mins
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Publisher's summary
The Crusades is an authoritative, accessible single-volume history of the brutal struggle for the Holy Land in the Middle Ages. Thomas Asbridge - a renowned historian who writes with "maximum vividness" (Joan Acocella, The New Yorker) - covers the years 1095 to 1291 in this big, ambitious, listenable account of one of the most fascinating periods in history. From Richard the Lionheart to the mighty Saladin, from the emperors of Byzantium to the Knights Templar, Asbridge's book is a magnificent epic of holy war between the Christian and Islamic worlds, full of adventure, intrigue, and sweeping grandeur.
Critic reviews
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The Biography of a Legend
- By Troy on 04-02-15
By: Thomas Asbridge
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The New Concise History of the Crusades
- Critical Issues in World and International History
- By: Thomas F. Madden
- Narrated by: Claton Butcher
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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How have the crusades contributed to Islamist rage and terrorism today? Were the crusades the Christian equivalent of modern jihad? In this sweeping yet crisp history, Thomas F. Madden offers a brilliant and compelling narrative of the crusades and their contemporary relevance.
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Inexcusable!
- By MK Miller on 10-16-14
By: Thomas F. Madden
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The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
- A History of Nazi Germany
- By: William L. Shirer
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 57 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Since its publication in 1960, William L. Shirer’s monumental study of Hitler’s German empire has been widely acclaimed as the definitive record of the 20th century’s blackest hours. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich offers an unparalleled and thrillingly told examination of how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. With millions of copies in print around the globe, it has attained the status of a vital and enduring classic.
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Held my interest for 57 hours and 13 minutes
- By Jonnie on 11-08-10
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The Plantagenets
- The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England
- By: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: Dan Jones
- Length: 21 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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The first Plantagenet king inherited a blood-soaked kingdom from the Normans and transformed it into an empire stretched at its peak from Scotland to Jerusalem. In this epic history, Dan Jones vividly resurrects this fierce and seductive royal dynasty and its mythic world. We meet the captivating Eleanor of Aquitaine, twice queen and the most famous woman in Christendom; her son, Richard the Lionheart, who fought Saladin in the Third Crusade; and King John, a tyrant who was forced to sign Magna Carta, which formed the basis of our own Bill of Rights.
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Old book--new narrator
- By Kay Long/The Lady Kay on 02-02-24
By: Dan Jones
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Iron and Blood
- A Military History of the German-Speaking Peoples Since 1500
- By: Peter H. Wilson
- Narrated by: Rory Alexander
- Length: 34 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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German military history is typically viewed as an inexorable march to the rise of Prussia and the two world wars, the road paved by militarism and the result a specifically German way of war. Peter Wilson challenges this narrative. Looking beyond Prussia to German-speaking Europe across the last five centuries, Wilson finds little unique or preordained in German militarism or warfighting. Iron and Blood takes as its starting point the consolidation of the Holy Roman Empire, which created new mechanisms for raising troops but also for resolving disputes diplomatically.
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Awesome
- By Will Georgiadis on 04-11-23
By: Peter H. Wilson
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Powers and Thrones
- A New History of the Middle Ages
- By: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: Dan Jones
- Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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When the once-mighty city of Rome was sacked by barbarians in 410 and lay in ruins, it signaled the end of an era—and the beginning of a thousand years of profound transformation. In a gripping narrative bursting with big names—from St Augustine and Attila the Hun to the Prophet Muhammad and Eleanor of Aquitaine—Dan Jones charges through the history of the Middle Ages. Powers and Thrones takes listeners on a journey through an emerging Europe, the great capitals of late Antiquity, as well as the influential cities of the Islamic West.
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Hard to take a break from it!
- By Mariano's Music on 12-09-21
By: Dan Jones
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The Anglo-Saxons
- A History of the Beginnings of England: 400 - 1066
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble, and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy, and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the vikings.
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"Pretty Good"
- By Stephen on 05-30-21
By: Marc Morris
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1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
- Original Recording
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With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.
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History brought to life
- By Joshua on 07-10-13
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
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The Burgundians
- A Vanished Empire: A History of 1111 Years and One Day
- By: Bart van Loo, Nancy Forest-Flier - translator
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 21 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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At the end of the fifteenth century, Burgundy was extinguished as an independent state. It had been a fabulously wealthy, turbulent region situated between France and Germany, with close links to the English kingdom. Torn apart by the dynastic struggles of early modern Europe, this extraordinary realm vanished from the map. But it became the cradle of what we now know as the Low Countries, modern Belgium and the Netherlands. This is the story of a thousand years, a must-listen narrative history of ambitious aristocrats, family dysfunction, treachery, savage battles, luxury, and madness.
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Extraordinary story, expertly told and skillfully narrated
- By Daniel Vergara on 03-01-24
By: Bart van Loo, and others
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1177 B.C. (Revised and Updated)
- The Year Civilization Collapsed
- By: Eric H. Cline
- Narrated by: Eric H. Cline
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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This audiobook narrated by acclaimed archaeologist and best-selling author Eric Cline offers a breathtaking account of how the collapse of an ancient civilized world ushered in the first Dark Ages.
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Look past the one-star reviews: this is an enlightening and engaging read.
- By Alonzo Nightjar on 03-07-22
By: Eric H. Cline
What listeners say about The Crusades
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jesse Morrow
- 08-09-18
amazing
Truly great and very detailed. Highly recommend for anyone interested in crusade history to listen to this.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 07-31-19
A two sided history
I am inherently interested in almost all aspects of religion, especially in the past. As an English speaking American, I have heard much of the Crusader side of this story, but little to none about the Muslim side. This is essentially a 50/50 telling and I couldn't pick up on any percieved bias. by far the best Crusade history I've ever "read".
I've listened to many Adrian Goldworthy books, Derek Perkins is great.
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2 people found this helpful
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- William
- 02-08-17
Tremendous
I think the subtitle is well deserved "The Authoritative History...". This was truly one of the best history books I have ever read. The author is expert in his knowledge of the Crusades and lays out each crusade with superb detail. It is history but reads like a story or novel. The narrator is excellent. He reads without effort and his sentences flow through the story. I not only enjoyed the experience, but feel I received a class A education on the subject. Well Done!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Coramdeo540
- 07-18-17
A Healthy Review of the Crusades As Both Sides Have Blood on their Hands
This a fair review of the Crusades as Both Sides are Guilty of Religious Zealousness
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- bdStudio
- 01-18-17
Wonderful
A very well presented history of the past with very insightful meaning. I would recommend this to any history lover.
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- Diana
- 12-11-18
Well worth the lengthy listen!
I am an ardent fan of crusade history, so I've read much of what's been written on the subject, from sources old and new, European and Arabic. But this book blows all the others away! Asbridge links ALL these sources to present a blended telling from the perspective of all participants. You think you know the crusades? Think again! I especially enjoyed the final chapter, as Asbridge examines the effects of this fascinating time on modern Arab - Western relations. Derek Perkins' talents as narrator add a very acceptable layer, that keeps this lengthy read from becoming stale or dull. I highly recommend this book!!
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- Hans Rigelman
- 04-01-18
Well Researched & Balanced History of the Crusades
Great detailed account of the Crusades from both European and Mid-eastern points of view. This is the definitive history from the 1090s to the end of the 13th century. This is a lot to digest, so the audio book is highly recommended.
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- greg kwiatkowski
- 07-02-20
Informative and educational!
Time well spent listening to this book, I have learned a lot about both cultures. Thank you to the author Derek Perkins.
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- Mark Mears
- 05-15-18
Enjoyed, but difficult to follow
This is one of those audiobooks that was difficult to “stay on track” with. To be fair, this is more likely due to a lack of familiarity on the listener’s part (me).
When I was able to stay focused, I learned a lot.
The last 30 minutes or so in which the author ties (or unties) the Crusades to modernity was very informative also.
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- pibinca
- 09-03-17
enthralling
Amazingly effective storytelling, excellent analysis and lively characters. The narrator manages to maintain the suspense throughout, even when he is giving accurate, scholarly details of battle formation and dynamics. The reading is absolutely superb; gripping, precise, elegant. I highly recommend it.
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