Overview

This is an extraordinary chronicle of the fifteen years, 1815-1830, that laid the foundations of modern society. It is a history of people, ideas, politics, manners, morals, economics, art, science and technology, diplomacy, business and commerce, literature, and revolution. From Wellington at Waterloo and Jackson at New Orleans to the surge of democratic power and reform, this tumultuous period saw the United States transform itself from an ex-colony into a formidable nation, Britain become the first industrial world power, Russia develop the fatal flaws that would engulf her in the twentieth century, and China and Japan set the stage for future development and catastrophe. Provocative, challenging, and listenable, this remarkable story is told through the lives and actions of its outstanding, curious, and ordinary people.

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9781455158119

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Reviews

Johnson...is a master of vigorous narratives on epic topics. Astoundingly, he writes with fascination about events and movements in virtually all fields of human endeavor...A lively and readable history. -- Kirkus Reviews Lively...Provocative. -- Library Journal Marvelously readable. -- Publishers Weekly We meet an enormous gallery of brilliant, eccentric, and (especially the poets) licentious characters...The author's sheer enthusiasm [makes] the tiniest fragments of recorded history burst with light and color. -- Los Angeles Times Book Review A considerable achievement...Immensely readable...Readers will learn a lot from The Birth of the Modern and have a good time while they're at it. -- Newsday Amazing...Crowded with wonderful portraiture, heroic feats of intellect and imagination...Reads at times like one of the novels it describes so brilliantly. -- Wall Street Journal Fascinating...A savory social history, spiced with lively gossip...It is never dull. In many ways a tour de force. -- New York Times Book Review A colossal effort of energy and imagination. -- Hugh Thomas, author of Rivers of Gold

Lively...Provocative. -- Library Journal A colossal effort of energy and imagination. -- Hugh Thomas, author of Rivers of Gold Johnson...is a master of vigorous narratives on epic topics. Astoundingly, he writes with fascination about events and movements in virtually all fields of human endeavor...A lively and readable history. -- Kirkus Reviews Marvelously readable. -- Publishers Weekly We meet an enormous gallery of brilliant, eccentric, and (especially the poets) licentious characters...The author's sheer enthusiasm [makes] the tiniest fragments of recorded history burst with light and color. -- Los Angeles Times Book Review A considerable achievement...Immensely readable...Readers will learn a lot from The Birth of the Modern and have a good time while they're at it. -- Newsday Amazing...Crowded with wonderful portraiture, heroic feats of intellect and imagination...Reads at times like one of the novels it describes so brilliantly. -- Wall Street Journal Fascinating...A savory social history, spiced with lively gossip...It is never dull. In many ways a tour de force. -- New York Times Book Review

We meet an enormous gallery of brilliant, eccentric, and (especially the poets) licentious characters...The author's sheer enthusiasm [makes] the tiniest fragments of recorded history burst with light and color. -- Los Angeles Times Book Review Marvelously readable. -- Publishers Weekly Lively...Provocative. -- Library Journal Johnson...is a master of vigorous narratives on epic topics. Astoundingly, he writes with fascination about events and movements in virtually all fields of human endeavor...A lively and readable history. -- Kirkus Reviews Fascinating...A savory social history, spiced with lively gossip...It is never dull. In many ways a tour de force. -- New York Times Book Review Amazing...Crowded with wonderful portraiture, heroic feats of intellect and imagination...Reads at times like one of the novels it describes so brilliantly. -- Wall Street Journal A considerable achievement...Immensely readable...Readers will learn a lot from The Birth of the Modern and have a good time while they're at it. -- Newsday A colossal effort of energy and imagination. -- Hugh Thomas, author of Rivers of Gold

Author Information

Paul Johnson is a historian whose work ranges over the millennia and the whole gamut of human activities. He regularly writes book reviews for several UK magazines and newspapers, such as the Literary Review and the Spectator, and he lectures around the world. He lives in London. Wanda McCaddon (a.k.a. Nadia May or Donada Peters) has narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, has earned numerous Earphones Awards, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.

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