Worth appraising

These cogent, closely argued essays published in a variety of periodicals over many years provide a valuable interpretation of many aspects of recent history.Tony Judt writes excellently with both passion and intelligence, and always has a well considered approach to each subject and is not the least afraid of reaching controversial conclusions. Many readers might disagree with his views on Israel, America and many other topics, but what he says always deserve serious consideration. Perhaps the most approachable essays are those on such figures as Primo Levi, Albert Camus and and Eric Hobsbawm, but even more obscure topics -communism in Romania, Althusser, political problems of Belgium -are made interesting James Adams reads the text in an alert and straightforward manner which is what is required. This is hardly a book to which one might listen for relaxation, but taken one essay at a time it provides much intellectual stimulation and food for thought . Strongly recommended.

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent essays, flawed narration

Tony Judt was one of the few contemporary thinkers who managed to combine rigorous scholarship with brilliant prose,resulting in cogent exposition of complex issues and theories. These essays, originally published in The New York Review of Books and other similar publications, furnish ample intellectually stimulation and the occasional chuckle, as Judt can have a wicked sense of humor. His dissection of Blair's Britain is brilliantly disheartening and as are the denunciation of Louis Althusser's theories as convoluted gibberish. Primo Levi and Hannah Arendt are lovingly revisited as are intellectuals such Leszek Kolakowski , Eric Hobsbawm and Arthur Koestler. Judt manages to transform even the intricacies of Belgian politics into a fascinating subject.
While I can but praise the text, I have some major problems with the reading of it. James Adams is an adequate reader, but he has major problems with any pronunciation rather than English, and the book is absolutely full of French, Italian , Polish , etc. I found myself heavily cringing at the almost incomprehensible mispronunciations of some non-English words scattered around the text. I would have thought one who accepts the job of reading such a text should do the basic homework of finding out how the names of important writers and intellectuals are pronounced.

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12 people found this helpful

Essays

Any additional comments?

An excellent collection of essays on various aspect of the C20. You won't find an overarching narrative or story, but you will find a selection of interesting insight and perspectives.

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Masterful

I bought this collection because I loved the epilogue of Post War, also a great book. Judt's essays are a beautifully written; full of well reasoned and referenced opinions on a wide range of topics relevant to the last century. Despite making me feel woefully ignorant, listening to this has been a great experience. The narrator is excellent, apart from a tendency to pronounce American as Amercan.

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Sometimes dense but fascinating

The early articles (mostly long reviews of biography’s of characters from the European left) drag a little but stick with it, the later articles are prophetic about the future of European culture, American politics and have fascinating insights that only Tony Judt could offer.

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Clear-sighted and astute

Tony Just should be remembered for his clear-sighted thought that dispels the mist. We would do well to read and learn from him and what he admired, as well as what he warned against.

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Brilliant essays, rather odd delivery

This set of reprinted reviews and essays confirms Tony Judt's position as one of the great post-war historical and political commentators. His knowledge and assessment of the figures and movements of world, and in particular European politics is masterful. I have enjoyed his larger works, and now, following his tragic early demise have turned to the lesser components of his oeuvre.

Which brings me to the rather odd pronunciation of his narrator. James Adams has a curious habit of investing French loanwords, such as oeuvre with idiosyncratic pronunciations. Thus oeuvre becomes ouvre, and insouciant ahnsoowisornt. If anything he rather overdoes his attempts to capture French vowels, which. given his otherwise impeccable received pronunciation, puts one in mind of a Surrey High Street bank manager trying, and failing, to pass for a French native. I realise that this is a rather trivial criticism of an otherwise excellent talking book, and that there will be many who find this only mildly irritating, if at all. It would be no criticism at all were it not for Tony Judt's fondness for French loanwords, but I found it a bit of a distraction.

I'm a bit of a pedant, me.

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9 people found this helpful

Only if you are sure

This was a mistake for me. Incredibly dull. I can normally immerse myself in new topics and learn a lot. This did not happen here.Lots of subjective recollections and accounts that do not flow together

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Reading not for me

Despite carefully listening to the preview clip of narration and checking other peoples comments, I found I quickly became irritated by the readers precise and superior voice. So not got far with this one.

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