1453

The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West

By: Roger Crowley

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Now in audiobook format, a gripping exploration of the fall of Constantinople and its connection to the world we live in today.

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 signaled a shift in history and the end of the Byzantium Empire. Roger Crowley's listenable and comprehensive account of the battle between Mehmed II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and Constantine XI, the 57th emperor of Byzantium, illuminates the period in history that was a precursor to the current jihad between the West and the Middle East.

©2016 Crowley (P)2016 Hachette Audio

A must read for history students

Its an incredible story with consequences that still echo to our time. The Islamic Caliphate tried for centuries to take this city because they knew the strategic significance not only controlling access to the black sea but also as a gateway to Europe. It must be understood that that gateway to Europe is being exploited to this day and the long march of Islam is still underway.

A grand story beautifully read.

This book tells the story of the fall of Constantinople with great balance between sufficient detail to really understand the people and events but without such minutiae that would make it tedious. As a reader who has not read a lot of history, especially of the "ancient" varies, I was captured by this story and am inspired to seek other similar works.

Thanks to the author and the reader!

Enthralling

This story was incredible. Hard to listen to in parts knowing how devastating this event was to the Greek people and Orthodox Church. The author makes you forget that you know the end and start rooting for people. The narration is flawless

A Vivid and Informative History.

``1453'' is the most interesting and informative history that I have listened to (or read) in a long time. The book not only deals with the battle for Constantinople, it covers the political dealings of the Pope and the city states of Italy in deciding whether to send military support to defend the city. The origins of the Turkish people is also covered. Not a dry historic account. The author's narrative of some of the battles are as exciting as those found in a historical fiction novel. The reader is excellent.
As a follow-up to ``1453'' I listened to the historic fiction novel, ``The Dark Angel'' by Mika Walteri (also available on Audible). ``Dark Angel, while fiction, retells most of the historic events and people that are contained in ``1453.''
I recommend both books and I look forward to listening/reading Roger Crowley's other histories.

highly recomended, facinating

while it is full of detailsand very informative, your imagination doesn't stop for a second.
better then history fiction book.

Walls, Cannon, and the Dynamics of Two Men

This book is a very detailed and profound record and narrative of the Accounts and Chronology of the events leading to, during, and after Mehmed II's Siege of Constantinople. It is thrilling to listen to, with a dynamic performance by the narrator. The book goes through many perspectives, from Greek, Italian, and Turk participants and never neglects to, in detail explain the whole events of the siege.
Anyone who has always wondered what the exact chronology of the Fall of Constantinople should read it as it fills many gaps and answers numerous questions about the siege that your history teachers may have skipped on this world changing event! Definitely one to read twice!

Overwhelming Narrative of "boring" events

I was on the edge of my seat in the last few chapters. Considering the parallels to our modern day malaise over the slow destruction of liberal democracy's great institutions (rule of law, independent judiciary, ...) I can contextualize Rome's surprise that Constantinople fell. Then to realize that Columbus found the Americas only a decade after Mehmet's death....

Spectacular and thrilling

What a journey! What a story! Cowley managed to bring back to reality so vividly all details, like in the famous Peter Jackson documentary on WW1 (They Shall Not Grow Old), when the B&W dull image comes to life in colors and audio... This was an amazing book with a fantastic narration!

incredible! Incredible!

short but very well-crafted and very well written history of the fall of Constantinople. excellent narration, narrator has a wonderful engaging voice.

School reading

we downloaded this book for our son. Started listening ourselves through our Audible account and ended up really enjoying it and looking forward to listening! Well done!