A great read

An amazing journey through time - very robust and deeply routed in evidence yet accessible and fun account of the cultures & peoples of the Mediterranean. Highly recommend.

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Mediterranean over millennia

This was a great journey through the history of the Mediterranean form the rise and fall of various nations and sea powers and individuals that shaped and formed societies around the sea. Some really fascinating stories and very enjoyable. Very good narration too.

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1 person found this helpful

Terrific book - poor reader

A magisterial history of the Mediterranean – very learned, informative and entertaining.

However, it was a pity that they couldn’t find a better reader. His voice is portentous and overdramatic, and his acting training clearly didn’t teach him the importance of pronouncing words properly. If a word is unfamiliar, look it up or find out. There is a reason why ‘golf’ is spelled differently from ‘gulf’ & they aren’t pronounced the same.

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Absolutely Magnificent

A wonderful, engaging journey through the centuries of human contact and conflict, that underpins the premise there's nothing new, just another age in history and will we ever learn.
For those who struggle with timelines, the book is brilliant. The right balance of major historical events and figures and yet single human stories, brings alive the history in a powerful way.
wherever you go around the Mediterranean after listening, you will hopefully look out on the water and acknowledge and connect with the many thousands of lives with their cultures and faiths, it has affected. leading us to where we are today. Still searching for identity, purpose and peace.

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2 people found this helpful

Daunted then Delighted.

This book was a challenge for me because there is so much detail and so many names to try and register.
I got a bit anxious about my ability to cope with it all but when I started to relax I loved it.
What did continually strike me was how well read it is. If it was a challenge to me as a listener how much of a challenge to the narrator - Brilliant job by him.
Fascinating story and I am left in awe of
the scholarship. I was a bit daunted by
the book but I really loved it and will
go on to listen to The Boundless Sea.

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6 people found this helpful

An education.

I thought that I was quite well up on the history of the civilisations of the Mediterranean. I was incorrect. Loved this book.

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3 people found this helpful

Fascinating

Incredibly interesting history of the Mediterranean. It starts in pre-history and comes right up to modern times. I learned a lot about the history and tensions in the region, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The narration was just fine.

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Enjoyable & informative

To my mind this is, in the end, a fantastic historical overview of the most essential civilised activity, trade, in the places where it has mattered most. It encompasses diplomacy, warfare, religion, language, culture, migration, law, custom and everything else but really it is about the momentous effects of humans doing what humans always want to do. Brilliant narration of a very entertaining and informative text.

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3 people found this helpful

A lot of info, tedious to listen!

A massive wrap up of maritime history. But because of that, less than optimal for listening

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Comprehensive but slightly old fashioned style

Well written, and deeply researched but not for me. It's very much in the style of 'this happened, then this, then this'.rather than the motivations of the protagonists. I persisted hoping it would improve, but i just couldn't stay with it.

Jonathan keeble is great - as always - and this book might work for you if you know you enjoy the authors style. for me, it was hard work and not enjoyable

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1 person found this helpful