Notes on a Century

Reflections of a Middle East Historian

By: Bernard Lewis, Buntzie Ellis Churchill

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Few historians end up as historical actors in their own right, but Bernard Lewis has both witnessed and participated in some of the key events of the last century. When we think of the Middle East, we see it in terms that he defined and articulated.

In this exceptional memoir he shares stories of his wartime service in London and Cairo, decrypting intercepts for MI6, with sometimes unexpected consequences. After the war, he was the first Western scholar ever invited into the Ottoman archives in Istanbul. He coined the term “clash of civilizations” in the 1950s, when no one imagined that political Islam would one day eclipse communism. A brilliant raconteur with an extraordinary gift for languages (he mastered 13), he regales us with tales of memorable encounters with Edward Kennedy, the Shah of Iran, Golda Meir, and Pope John Paul II, among many others.

September 11 catapulted him onto the world stage as his seminal books What Went Wrong? and Crisis of Islam leaped onto bestseller lists. In his first major book since the second Iraq war, Lewis describes how - contrary to popular fiction - he opposed the war and reveals his exchanges with the Bush administration outlining his far greater concerns about Iran. For more than half a century, Bernard Lewis has taken influential and controversial positions on contemporary politics and on the politics of academe. A man of towering intellect and erudition, he writes with the flair of Toynbee or Gibbon, only he has seen more and is much funnier.

©2012 Bernard Lewis (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

a truly great man

I miss you Bernard, you defined so much for me that to finish this book felt sad knowing there won't be another to enjoy.

Easy and Fun Listen

It is not a history book but it is a memoir from a great historian. Lewis talks about his personal life and memories while mentioning some interesting notes from the 20th century. There are many funny and interesting anecdotes as well as encounters with some key figures of the century. As always Ralph Lister doesn't disappoint (big fan of him from James Clavell's Asian Saga).

As for the negative review before me, it is probably someone of Armenian descent hating Bernard Lewis for his views on the Armenian Genocide/Massacre issue. I'd say disregard the biased review and enjoy the book. It is an easy and fun listen.

Can't Get Enough of the Book

Where does Notes on a Century rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is among the best of the numerous Audible books I own.

What did you like best about this story?

This is a frank, honest and revealing story about the life of the great historian, Bernard Lewis. I have been fascinated by Lewis' other books on the Middle East, but this one brings together all of them, while putting them in perspective. I loved hearing about every aspect of Lewis' personal development and the changes that he has undergone.

Which character – as performed by Ralph Lister – was your favorite?

There is really only one character and that is Bernard Lewis. I kept feeling that the narrator was in fact Lewis himself. Lister's performance was so perfect. His English, French and Italian could not be better.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A Full Life!

Any additional comments?

I most highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to understand the triumph, joy and tribulations of a great historian. The book is forthright and places the pursuit of truth at the forefront of scholarship, no matter the personal consequences. Audible, you've done it again!

Love it

I just started it and will write a review later after I finish ... but the narrator's "performance is excellent and I'm excited about listening to this sage.

must read

I wish I would sit down and ask 100,000 questions to Mr Lewis.

I think you are the wisest