Voices of History

Speeches That Changed the World

By: Simon Sebag Montefiore

Narrated by: Simon Sebag Montefiore, Jade Anouka, Richard Armitage, Richard Goulding, Clarke Peters, Heida Reed, Juliet Stevenson

A celebration of the great speeches of world history and cultural life. A VINTAGE ORIGINAL

In this exuberant collection, acclaimed historian Simon Sebag Montefiore takes us on a journey from ancient times to the twenty-first century. Some speeches are heroic and inspiring; some diabolical and atrocious. Some are exquisite and poignant; others cruel and chilling. The speakers themselves vary from empresses and conquerors to rock stars, novelists and sportsmen, dreamers and killers, from Churchill and Elizabeth I to Stalin and Genghis Khan, and from Michelle Obama and Cleopatra to Ronald Reagan, Nehru, and Muhammad Ali.

All human drama is here: from the carnage of battlefields to the theatre of courtrooms, from table talk to audiences of millions, from desperate last stands to orations of triumph, from noble calls for liberation to genocidal rants, from foolish delusions and strange confessions to defiant resistance and heartbreaking farewells. Voices of History spans centuries, continents, and cultures. In the accessible and gripping style of a master storyteller, Montefiore shows why these seventy speeches are essential reading and how they enlighten our past, enrich our present, and inspire--as well as hold warnings for--our future.

Great Read!

What an amazing read, with a wonderful selection of Voices of History, with excellent choices for narration. Highly recommend this book.

Powerful and Impassioned

This collection of speeches were a wonderful listen. They were powerful, impassioned, hopeful, heartfelt and diabolical. Some, spoken in ancient times, are relevant today. A must listen for everyone.

The cast of narrators were superb.

Could have been better

Although the narrators have excellent reputations, they were not able, at times, to capture the essence of the original orators, very disappointing. Also, some of the chapters did not open, skipping to the next chapter. Poor production/ editing apparently.

Famous and infamous speeches

Though it takes determination to listen to this many speeches, the monotony is greatly relieved by the author’s excellent introductions, which are well crafted and edifying. I learned a great deal, including how boring, petty and dreary are speeches by the likes of Stalin and Hitler!