Blood and Iron

The Rise and Fall of the German Empire; 1871-1918

By: Katja Hoyer

Narrated by: Natasha Soudek

This vivid 50-year history of Germany from 1871-1918 - which inspired events that forever changed the European continent - is the story of the Second Reich from its violent beginnings and rise to power to its calamitous defeat in the First World War.

Before 1871, Germany was not yet a nation but simply an idea.

Its founder, Otto von Bismarck, had a formidable task at hand. How would he bring 39 individual states under the yoke of a single Kaiser? How would he convince proud Prussians, Bavarians, and Rhinelanders to become Germans? Once united, could the young European nation wield enough power to rival the empires of Britain and France - all without destroying itself in the process?

In this unique study of five decades that changed the course of modern history, Katja Hoyer tells the story of German Empire’s beginning to its defeat in World War I.

This often startling narrative is a dramatic tale of national self-discovery, social upheaval, and realpolitik that ended, as it started, in blood and iron.

©2021 Katja Hoyer (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

phenomenally informative, beautifully executed

the information was a great all around view of the information from the period and the narrator had an incredible performance. her voice sounded truly interested in the subject.

An Intersection History

Full of good information. Clear and organized reading of the book. Pleasant voice. You will enjoy this book.

Fascinating History of a Key Period

This very rich history of the Second Reich clarifies so many elements of German history of that period. It's impact on the two World Wars, the rise of Marxism, and the rest of the twentieth century fills in so many blank spaces in historical background. I found this so helpful.

outstanding work.

Clearly written and structured. Answered questions I had pondered for years on the people and events between 1815 and 1870 that led to the Unification War. Also the complex economic, social and political issues and events afterwards. The narrator was exceptional. The author was meticulous in research and very well written. I plan to follow up and read her other books especially if she obtains the services of the narrator.

Useful social history; dreadful narrator

I listened to this after Beyond the Wall by the same author. I found it a good social history of Germany in the 18th- early 19th centuries - a very complicated subject, presented clearly and in some useful detail.
The narrator is just AWFUL. So ignorant she cannot even pronounce "armistice" correctly, and obviously couldn't be bothered to check how to pronounce the names even of world-famous World War I battles - Verdun, the Somme - or of German rivers correctly. But she kept getting all breathy about events in history. Obviously, if anyone 'edited' her recitation was equally uninformed or just couldn't be bothered. Will never listen to anything this narrator has wrecked again.

Great overview of the period

Really enjoyed this broad overview of the empire’s history. Some commenters are criticizing the pronunciation in the performance but they probably aren’t accustomed to this more accurate pronunciation of German names and places.

Excellent listen

I’ve been wanting to learn more about the events leading up to World War I in Germany, and this book is an excellent introduction to that history. I was particularly intrigued by the story about Kathe Kollwitz the artist and the death of her son in the Great War.

Page turner. Gorgeous narration. Incredible voice.

It’s rare that a narrator’s voice will hold me captive in non-fiction. It’s also rare that a historical non-fiction can be written as a page turner. For me, this audiobook achieved both. I’ve always wanted to learn about this period in German history, and this audiobook kept me spellbound. I found the narrator’s voice incredibly satisfying to listen to. Her warmth, power, empathy, and charisma made it the opposite of the typically drone monosyllabic ness typical in these kinds of books. And it was refreshing that she was obviously a native German speaker, despite having no German accent when speaking English. I hate it when non-native speakers narrate German, and the opposite was true here. This woman’s German is gorgeous, and I loved this book.

Succinct, Informative, and Enjoyable

While I’ve read a few histories of the immediate pre-WWI period, this is the first I have read focusing on Germany. I found myself learning about new events and dispelling some myths throughout, and it felt like the book gave a fresh treatment to periods and subject figures. While the book adequately covers the main cast like Bismarck and the Kaisers, it also sheds light on some of the other chancellors and most importantly on events pertaining to the German people of the time. I am already looking forward to Ms. Hoyer’s next book.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the book, and I give the narrator, Natasha Soudek, special credit for her performance and correct pronunciation.

Excellent survey of German and European history

A really good high level survey of the German Empire. Some parts were slow, and a I know maps aren’t possible in an audio book but a book like this really needs maps for better understanding. That said I really did enjoy the narrator and I learned several new things about German and European history in the late 19th and early 20th century. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys either WW1 or WW2 history. German history is such a tragedy. I get a sense that It could have turned out so much better than it did and the world as well as German people have suffered needlessly if only they had had better leadership that favored a more peaceful path.