The Start

1904-1930

By: William L. Shirer

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 22 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

William L. Shirer was a CBS foreign correspondent and renowned author of New York Times best-selling nonfiction about World War II, and this is the first part of his three-part autobiography.

A renowned journalist and author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, William L. Shirer chronicles his own life story in a personal history that parallels the greater historical events for which he served as a witness.

In this first volume, Shirer tells of his early life, growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and later serving as a new reporter in Paris. In this surprisingly intimate account, Shirer details his youthful challenges, setbacks, rebellions, and insights into the world around him. He offers personal accounts of his friendships with notable people, including Isadora Duncan, Ernest Hemingway, and Sinclair Lewis.

This fascinating personal account also provides an illuminating look into the lost era of pre-World War II - and is notable as much for its historical value as for its autobiographical detail.

©1979, 2018 William L. Shirer (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

An Excellent Review of Decades of History

William Shirer gives the reader an excellent understanding of the events and society of the early 1900s. He is a magnificent raconteur who reflects the values and thoughts of people of that time.

Grover Gardner is the perfect narrator for this book.

A hidden gem

I’ve read and listened to both of Shirer’s epic reads the rise and fall of the third Reich and the collapse of the third republic, I’ve listened to so many hours of Grover Gardner voice I couple pics of Shirer with Gardners voice.

I stumbled upon this story and thought what the hell. I’m so glad I listened, I learned a ton about Shirer and of history during this era - my parents era. It’s been extremely valuable and educational to me and Gardner’s reading makes it all the better, he’s a superb reader, totally believable, excellent cadence and easy to understand and follow.

very captivating

Part autobiography and part biography of all the people he met, this is a very interesting book. It captures the 1910s-1920s like no other story I've ever read.
And the reader reads it like only he can. Highly recommended.

Not Just An Autobiography

This a wonderful history of the first decades of the 20th century in our country and in Europe. A splendid look at the life and times of a youth from the Midwest whose curiosity and drive made him a gifted reporter and broadcaster and, as we see in this volume, historian.

You are there! First Rate!

Shirer is the author of the iconic Rise and Fall of The Third Reich. He is one of the most underrated writers of the 20th C.

A journalist who was on the scene of most of the first half of the 20th C’s most historical events.

From his roving reportage throughout Europe pre- and post-WWII, Shirer observes, interviews and reports on the notable WHO’s Who of the era, whether in politics, culture or the arts: Hitler, Churchill, Mussolini, Petain, Chamberlain, Attlee, Michael Collins, Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Gertrude Stein, Grant Wood et.al.

But for me, what is most fascinating are perhaps the descriptions of all the lesser known notables and Shirer’s highly honed sense of timing and ability to distill what is important to the story and likely to be of the highest historical import.

Grover Gardener is brilliant as narrator, his style and manner suits the era and material perfectly. I can’t imagine anyone else eliciting the texture and ambiance of the times so on point.

A Truly Superb Work!

This book had a profound impact on me for many reasons. Here are a few:

1. After reading Mr. Shirer’s comprehensive book on the rise and fall of the 3rd Reich about 5 years ago, this book was helpful to understand how it was possible for Mr. Shirer to create such a compelling and comprehensive history book.

2. I like how Mr. Shirer covered events like the 1927 Atlantic crossing by Lindbergh. It’s rare to read about the people who lost their lives just weeks before his trip, and the hour-by-hour commentary since Mr. Shirer was there when he landed in Paris.

3. Because I lived and studied in a few countries in Europe and Asia as a 20 something year old, I felt a kinship with Mr. Shirer as he explored the world.

4. The commentary about the 1929 stock market crash was also very interesting.

5. Mr. Shirer’s brief and extended relationships with authors and other well-known figures of his time was also fascinating to me.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants many firsthand reports from life in the early to mid 20th Century.

Clouds gathering on the horizon in Europe

The first of three books in this famous series (The Start, Berlin Diary, End of a Berlin Diary) by William L. Shirer, I'm glad that I happened upon the "Berlin Diary" books first. They put you right into the middle of Berlin, as Adolph Hitler was gaining power. "The Start," which covers this renown Journalist and Author's early life, from growing up in middle America through his fantastic early career and experiences in pre-WWII Europe, gets off to a slow start. In fact, I'm afraid I would never have finished it, if I didn't already know what was in store for him and the reader in his latter two books in the series. Even after he gets a job right out of college in France as a cub reporter, this true story suddenly picks up tempo, as he ends up greeting Charles Lindbergh on a grass airstrip outside Paris. From that point on, it seems, he is always in the right place at the right time, interviewing European Heads of State and world-renown celebrities of the time, including Lindbergh. But this is also a story, as seen through his eyes, of an optimistic America in the first third of the Century, having survived "the War to End All Wars" and going into the Great Depression. So, hang in there for a great ride after he gets to Paris. The narration is excellent, although you might get real tired of hearing all the French names of people he meets and the addresses of dozens of cafe's he regularly visits. It is truly remarkable the level of detail he has written into his diary throughout his life, knowing from the very beginning, it seems, that he would write an excellent autobiographical piece like this some day. All three books comprise a story of one of America's finest Journalists. What a life!

I've been being enlightened by the author

for more than 40 years. I've read all of his books at least once. (Fall of 3rd French Republic was only one I didn't enjoy, likely because i still know little about French culture. I did study German.)
other reviewer noticed that this is less dramatic. However, I thotoughk enjoyed listening to him present a broader view introducing information and analyses involving other genres. this corresponds to a great broadening in my horizons from 46 years ago.

A Rich Life

I enjoyed the history lesson. Some of his family history was! more than I needed. Great reading

super interesting

I really loved this volume. Having previously read the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich I was eager to read more of Shirer's first hand experiences. He really is an excellent writer and his stories of working as young reporter are entertaining. I'm really looking forward to the next two volumes. Grover Gardner's narration is always on par.