A Short History of the World

All of history in a little over seven hours? Christopher Lascelles's gem of compression, elegantly read by Guy Bethell in what sounds like the voice of Father Time himself, is like a fresh coat of paint in a badly lit room. You know all this stuff already, more or less, but Lascelles covers all four walls without haste or waste, without dumbing down, and with a high degree of objectivity, reliability, and clarity. The pace can be daunting--stop for gas during the First Crusade, and by the time you're back in your seat, the Turks have taken Constantinople. However, here's a story you can pick up almost anywhere and listen to over and again. D.A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine