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  • The Holocaust

  • A New History
  • By: Laurence Rees
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
  • Length: 19 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (740 ratings)
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The Holocaust

By: Laurence Rees
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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Summary

Narrated by actor Jonathan Keebles, this brilliantly researched tome on the Holocaust incorporates the most up-to-date research with interviews and first-hand accounts. This is a thoughtful account of a shameful period in world history.

This landmark work answers two of the most fundamental questions in history: how and why did the Holocaust happen?

Laurence Rees has spent 25 years meeting survivors and perpetrators of the Third Reich and the Holocaust. Now, in his magnum opus, he combines largely unpublished testimony with the latest academic research to create the first accessible and authoritative account of the Holocaust in over three decades. Rees argues that whilst hatred of the Jews was always at the epicentre of Nazi thinking - and the Holocaust was the most appalling crime in history - what happened cannot be fully understood without considering the murder of the Jews alongside other Nazi plans to kill millions of non-Jews as well. He also reveals the inner machinations of the Nazi state and shows how there was no single decision to start the Holocaust; instead, a series of escalations cumulatively created the horror.

Through a chronological, intensely gripping narrative featuring the latest historical research and enthralling eyewitness testimony, this is the compelling story of humanity's lowest point.

©2017 Laurence Rees (P)2017 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Holocaust

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History Repeats Itself ?

As I enjoy history books, there isn't anything in particular I dislike about the book. It is a timely reminder of how human beings can allow themselves to believe demagoguery when they benefit from it at someone else's expense ( Jews, Poles, everyone not considered racially superior). It is an extremely well researched book, with accounts from individuals who were there. Even though everyone knows about the extermination of European Jewry, the level of Nazi anti Jewish sentiment made me feel physically sick. The level of collusion
To formulate extermination very frightening indeed. In current times we need to remember for evil to succeed all it takes is people doing nothing.


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19 people found this helpful

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Astonishing Piece Of Work

I've read and watched Laurence Rees's work about the ' Final Solution ' which was made by the BBC and is on Netflix as a 6 part documentary. This book is 25 years of work combined into as the author correctly states ' A New History '.

We all know about the atrocities of the Holocaust and how the sick, elderly, disables and Jews were persecuted. This book is a little different, though it does highlight the atrocities of that period it actually takes the readers into the mechanics of how and why the Holocaust came about.

I've actually ordered and received 2 other books by the author and a couple more books about this subject as even after reading and watching things about the Holocaust I still can't understand how one deluded maniac could influence a nation of people to rally against a race that Hitler blamed for the Germans losing the First World War.

Highly recommend this book for people who would like to know how this all came about and why it is still important to this day to keep this dark episode of the 20th Century open for future generations to learn from.

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14 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Holocaust - A masterly telling

Where does The Holocaust rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the finest audio history books I have listened to. Totally engaging. A clear and measured account of the darkest error of western European history.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Holocaust?

This does not really apply. The whole book is a highlight.

What does Jonathan Keeble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Mr Keeble is a masterly narrater. Vocally clear and engaged with the text, a model of the professional readers art. Quotes from holocaust survivors are read with character, without a trace of caricature.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. The text is too long and the subject matter means that I for one needed some respite.

Any additional comments?

No

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9 people found this helpful

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painfullly compulsive

JK is probably the best narrator in audible and i am drawn to books he covers as i find him an easy listen - he does a first class job here as did the author who's strength in assembling material is astounding . . at points i had to stop listening as the content is so dark and shows the depths of depravity to which the human mind can sink . but i also felt an obligation to get through the book as my modem sacrifice does not even scratch the surface of the suffering of millions for the sake of the deviant ideology .

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7 people found this helpful

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wow

Amazing. Terrifying. An insight like none I've read or watched before.
The narrator is, I feel, a good choice. He brings a level of intensity and care to a telling of this history that is respectful.

The book itself is well paced, indepth and compelling to listen to.
The author presents the research, backed up by citing documents and interviews, in a chronological way. He gives his opinions and shows why he came to those conclusions.

If you want a broader (in the sensw that it covers a larger time scale) knowledge of the acts that took place in this dark area of our recent history, that is also full of detail this is definitely a good book to try

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5 people found this helpful

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Gripping and fascinating read.

Lawrence Rees has written an incredible poignant, moving, insightful book detailing a new history of the holocaust thats maps out if existence and those who participated and suffered at the hands of it. I was gripped from start to finish. 5 Stars...It is also superbly read by Jonathan Keeble who adds the right tone and voice to the subject matter.

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5 people found this helpful

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Great book but a hard subject

This is an excellent book, full of great detail and first hand accounts of works changing events. It goes into unflinching detail about what happened in places like Auschwitz and Sobibór, so is necessarily a hard listen, but worth it to understand what lead to the Holocaust.

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3 people found this helpful

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Gripping, heartbreaking

Excellent. Beautifully read. Heartbreaking detail. To say I 'enjoyed' it is the wrong word. I learnt a lot. I am glad I read it. Never forget.

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2 people found this helpful

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Incredible

A truly incredible work encompassing both the political and emotional aspects of this shameful period in mankind’s history. The detail is such that at times it is like you are there witnessing events first hand which of course can make for very painful listening. I have huge respect for the author and importantly the delivery of this audio book is made all the better for the narrator, the best I’ve heard. Thank you both.

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1 person found this helpful

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Poor reading of foreign names and words

This actor gets Roehm wrong (pronounces it like 'room') and bizarrely pronounces Sudetenland as 'sudentenland', as well as mangling most of the other German and Polish words in the book. Since there are a lot of these, it's very distracting. How difficult would it have been to get someone who could pronounce German names?

Good book, but I'll stick to reading it on the Kindle.

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1 person found this helpful