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The Edge of the World
- A Cultural History of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 15 hrs and 24 mins
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Publisher's summary
An epic adventure ranging from the terror of the Vikings to the golden age of cities: Michael Pye tells the amazing story of how modernity emerged on the shores of the North Sea.
Saints and spies, pirates and philosophers, artists and intellectuals: They all crisscrossed the grey North Sea in the so-called "dark ages", the years between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of Europe's mastery over the oceans. Now the critically acclaimed Michael Pye reveals the cultural transformation sparked by those men and women: the ideas, technology, science, law, and moral codes that helped create our modern world.
This is the magnificent lost history of a thousand years. It was on the shores of the North Sea where experimental science was born, where women first had the right to choose whom they married; there was the beginning of contemporary business transactions and the advent of the printed book. In The Edge of the World, Michael Pye draws on an astounding breadth of original source material to illuminate this fascinating region during a pivotal era in world history.
A New York Times Notable Book.
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A Vermeer painting shows a military officer in a Dutch sitting room, talking to a laughing girl. In another canvas, fruit spills from a blue-and-white porcelain bowl. Familiar images that captivate us with their beauty--but as Timothy Brook shows us, these intimate pictures actually give us a remarkable view of an expanding world.
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A wonderful book
- By Acteon on 07-09-14
By: Timothy Brook
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The Middle Ages
- By: Morris Bishop
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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In this indispensable volume, one of America's ranking scholars combines a life's work of research and teaching with the art of lively narration. Both authoritative and beautifully told, The Middle Ages is the full story of the thousand years between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance - a time that saw the rise of kings and emperors, the flowering of knighthood, the development of Europe, the increasing power of the Catholic Church, and the advent of the middle class.
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"It's All left to the imagination."
- By Dave Miller on 09-22-17
By: Morris Bishop
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The Richest Man Who Ever Lived
- The Life and Times of Jacob Fugger
- By: Greg Steinmetz
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Jacob Fugger lived in Germany at the turn of the 16th century, the grandson of a peasant. By the time he died, his fortune amounted to nearly 2 percent of European GDP. Not even John D. Rockefeller had that kind of wealth. Most people become rich by spotting opportunities, pioneering new technologies, or besting opponents in negotiations. Fugger did all that, but he had an extra quality that allowed him to rise even higher: nerve.
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Narrator the worst I ever heard
- By J. Feye-Stukas on 01-12-16
By: Greg Steinmetz
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British History for Dummies
- By: Sean Lang
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Putting history into a perspective, this is an engaging, entertaining and educational trip through time, packing in equal parts fun and facts. Recently updated, British History For Dummies introduces listeners to recent events, including British actions in Afghanistan, and David Cameron's formation of Britain's first coalition Cabinet since World War II. But don't worry - British History For Dummies doesn't skimp on the old stuff! It's a riotous, irreverent account of the people and events that have shaped Britain.
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historical and punnie
- By Michellerose on 06-18-16
By: Sean Lang
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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
- Unabridged
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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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The Empire of Necessity
- Slavery, Freedom, and Deception in the New World
- By: Greg Grandin
- Narrated by: Luis Moreno
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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One morning in 1805, off a remote island in the South Pacific, Captain Amasa Delano, a New England seal hunter, climbed aboard a distressed Spanish ship carrying scores of West Africans he thought were slaves. They weren' t. Having earlier seized control of the vessel and slaughtered most of the crew, they were staging an elaborate ruse, acting as if they were humble servants. When Delano, an idealistic, anti-slavery republican, finally realized the deception, he responded with explosive violence. Drawing on research on four continents, The Empire of Necessity explores the multiple forces that culminated in this extraordinary event.
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What is the "right thing to do"?
- By Lake on 03-08-14
By: Greg Grandin
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Marco Polo
- From Venice to Xanadu
- By: Laurence Bergreen
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 16 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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As the most celebrated European to explore Asia, Marco Polo was the original global traveler and the earliest bridge between East and West. A universal icon of adventure and discovery, he has inspired six centuries of popular fascination and spurious mythology. Now, from acclaimed author Laurence Bergreen, comes the first fully authoritative biography of one of the most enchanting figures in world history.
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Educational and Entertaining but a bit repetitive
- By PETER on 01-02-13
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Young Benjamin Franklin
- The Birth of Ingenuity
- By: Nick Bunker
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 17 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
From his early career as a printer and journalist to his scientific work and his role as a founder of a new republic, Benjamin Franklin has always seemed the inevitable embodiment of American ingenuity. But in his youth, he had to make his way through a harsh colonial world, where he fought many battles with his rivals, but also with his wayward emotions. Taking Franklin to the age of 41, when he made his first electrical discoveries, Bunker goes behind the legend to reveal the sources of his passion for knowledge.
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Good Book but LOTS of Names
- By Tim on 10-31-19
By: Nick Bunker
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The Age of the Vikings
- By: Anders Winroth
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Vikings maintain their grip on our imagination, but their image is too often distorted by medieval and modern myth. It is true that they pillaged, looted, and enslaved. But they also settled peacefully and developed a vast trading network. They traveled far from their homelands in swift and sturdy ships, not only to raid, but also to explore. Despite their fearsome reputation, the Vikings didn’t wear horned helmets, and even the infamous berserkers were far from invincible.
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Interesting history. Narrator could be better
- By Castle51 on 07-09-15
By: Anders Winroth
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The Island at the Center of the World
- The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America
- By: Russell Shorto
- Narrated by: Russell Shorto
- Length: 14 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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In a landmark work of history, Russell Shorto presents astonishing information on the founding of our nation and reveals in riveting detail the crucial role of the Dutch in making America what it is today.
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Incomplete history, but fun. Performance is poor.
- By Matthew on 11-27-18
By: Russell Shorto
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St. Patrick of Ireland
- A Biography
- By: Philip Freeman
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Ireland's patron saint has long been shrouded in legend: he drove the snakes out of Ireland; he triumphed over Druids and their super-natural powers; he used a shamrock to explain the Christian mystery of the Trinity. But his true story is more fascinating than the myths.
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A Wonderful Discription
- By L. Thibodeaux on 08-12-05
By: Philip Freeman
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just a text book
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Excellent History of Scandinavia after the Vikings
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String of digressions paints cultural picture
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Chaucer wrote about everyday people outside the walls of the English court-men and women who spent days at the pedal of a loom, or maintaining the ledgers of an estate, or on the high seas. In Chaucer's People, Liza Picard transforms The Canterbury Tales into a masterful guide for a gloriously detailed tour of medieval England, from the mills and farms of a manor house to the lending houses and Inns of Court in London. In Chaucer's People, we meet, again, the motley crew of pilgrims on the road to Canterbury.
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Towards the middle of the third century BC, the Hellenistic kingdoms were near their peak. In terms of population, economy, and military power, each was vastly superior to Rome, not to mention in fields such as medicine, architecture, science, philosophy, and literature. But over the next two and a half centuries, Rome would eventually conquer these kingdoms while adopting so much of Hellenistic culture that the resultant hybrid is known as "Graeco-Roman." In Greece Against Rome, Philip Matyszak relates this epic tale from the Hellenistic perspective.
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Really enjoyed the book and snark
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Can't finish it.
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The Accursed Tower
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Overall
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Performance
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In The Accursed Tower, Roger Crowley delivers a lively narrative of the lead-up to the siege and a vivid, blow-by-blow account of the climactic battle. Drawing on extant Arabic sources as well as untranslated Latin documents, he argues that Acre is notable for technical advances in military planning and siege warfare, and extraordinary for its individual heroism and savage slaughter. A gripping depiction of the crusader era told through its dramatic last moments, The Accursed Tower offers an essential new view on a crucial turning point in world history.
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Another great book by Roger Crowley
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What listeners say about The Edge of the World
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Tara K. Morrison
- 06-10-21
Jumbled but intriguing
Hard to follow the narrative thread to back up the hypothesis of what Northern Europe initiated or influenced but still, lots of vignettes and some references to sources. Great narrator.
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- thomas johnson
- 05-02-20
Delightful storytelling
Well researched history that covers a large geographical area and many fascinating subjects. The author manages to skillfully tells his story while not getting lost in too many details and the narrator is brilliant and one of the best I have ever experienced.
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- Anonymous 626
- 08-01-22
Insightful and compelling view of the origins of the modern world.
Anyone interested in the transition from the medieval to the modern world should enjoy this book. Well thought out and presented. This book made me look at the world in different ways.
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- beakt
- 10-01-19
Super enjoyable
Michael Pye did an outstanding job taking us back in time hundreds of years. It's a descriptive narrative of every day life from the 700s through 1300s and beyond. He has a great sense for what's important for us to know to give us perspective on our own lives as we navigate our way through society yet deal with the enduring aspects of human nature that can be obscured by technology and custom. In the opening, as he describes his take on what we can and should perceive of history, he very neatly lays out what he intends to accomplish, which focuses the listener for what's to come.
And, what can I say about the narration and the production? Steven Crossley was utterly terrific! He reads each sentence with thorough understanding, and correct inflection, so it's very easy to listen to. And he does this thing that I love, where he changes the pitch of his voice for everything in quotes (from letters written by people from past ages). His talent is also reflect in the overall production quality: You don't hear a change in tone or sound in the middle of a paragraph (or sentence) that you might in other audio books, where the recording wasn't good enough, or the reader stumbled over his words or something, and they had to splice two clips together. With Crossley, it's as if he read the entire book perfectly in one sitting.
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8 people found this helpful
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Unbalanced History with Missing Important History
It’s easy to get lost in this book without dates or important history that let you know where you are and that changed the history of this part of the worldThe narrator reads it with a sardonic style, which doesn’t appeal to me. This is best read as a historical fiction, if you can take the mocking tone of the reader.
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2 people found this helpful