The Start

1904-1930

By: William L. Shirer

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

William L. Shirer was a CBS foreign correspondent and renowned author of New York Times best-selling nonfiction about World War II, and this is the first part of his three-part autobiography.

A renowned journalist and author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, William L. Shirer chronicles his own life story in a personal history that parallels the greater historical events for which he served as a witness.

In this first volume, Shirer tells of his early life, growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and later serving as a new reporter in Paris. In this surprisingly intimate account, Shirer details his youthful challenges, setbacks, rebellions, and insights into the world around him. He offers personal accounts of his friendships with notable people, including Isadora Duncan, Ernest Hemingway, and Sinclair Lewis.

This fascinating personal account also provides an illuminating look into the lost era of pre-World War II - and is notable as much for its historical value as for its autobiographical detail.

©1979, 2018 William L. Shirer (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

corruption rampant

a riveting insider tale of much including rise of facism and many fascinating portraits. Just tremendous and personably written

An Excellent Review of Decades of History

William Shirer gives the reader an excellent understanding of the events and society of the early 1900s. He is a magnificent raconteur who reflects the values and thoughts of people of that time.

Grover Gardner is the perfect narrator for this book.

Shirer accomplished more (had a wider variety of experience) by 26 than most people do in a lifetime.

This is truly a memoir more than it is a history of these years. World events happen in the background.

A hidden gem

I’ve read and listened to both of Shirer’s epic reads the rise and fall of the third Reich and the collapse of the third republic, I’ve listened to so many hours of Grover Gardner voice I couple pics of Shirer with Gardners voice.

I stumbled upon this story and thought what the hell. I’m so glad I listened, I learned a ton about Shirer and of history during this era - my parents era. It’s been extremely valuable and educational to me and Gardner’s reading makes it all the better, he’s a superb reader, totally believable, excellent cadence and easy to understand and follow.

very captivating

Part autobiography and part biography of all the people he met, this is a very interesting book. It captures the 1910s-1920s like no other story I've ever read.
And the reader reads it like only he can. Highly recommended.