BBC Eyewitness [20th Century] (AudioGO Ltd, 2006) - Joanna Bourke Audiobook

Written by Joanna Bourke
Read by Tim Piggott-Smith (narrator)
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps

1900 - 1909

Tim Pigott-Smith presents a unique audio snapshot of the history of the Twentieth Century. Released in ten volumes, Eyewitness provides a rare opportunity to hear the history of the 20th century described by those who were actually there. Tim Pigott-Smith weaves together fascinating reminiscences taken from the BBC archives – many previously unbroadcast – with an insightful commentary written by Joanna Bourke, Professor of History at Birkbeck College.

The century began with British troops at war in South Africa, and majors, colonels and privates recall their part in the action. The death of Queen Victoria led to the streets of London being lined with funeral spectators, and the subsequent coronation of Edward VII in 1902 lent the nation a mood of ‘lightheartedness, sparkle and glamour’. Meanwhile theatregoers and music hall audiences were being entertained by Henry Irving and Marie Lloyd.

A multitude of vox pops offer fascinating insights into life in the 1900s – the manners, fashion, discipline, religion, alcohol and sport. Voices of ordinary people are mixed with those whose names still resonate today: writer Compton Mackenzie, playwright Ben Travers, Marconi the radio pioneer, suffragette’s daughter Sylvia Pankhurst, and Violet Bonham-Carter.

Captivating, revelatory, thought-provoking and very often moving, these are the authentic voices of the past, speaking to the present.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
ISBN: 9781405699266
Release date: January 27, 2006
Duration: 03:44:17
Number of parts: 3

1910 - 1919

Tim Pigott-Smith presents the second volume in this unique audio snapshot of the history of the Twentieth Century.

Released in ten volumes, Eyewitness provides a rare opportunity to hear the history of the 20th century described by those who were actually there. Tim Pigott-Smith weaves together fascinating reminiscences taken from the BBC archives – many previously unbroadcast – with an insightful commentary written by Joanna Bourke, Professor of History at Birkbeck College.

A multitude of vox pops offer fascinating insights into life in the 1900s – the manners, fashion, discipline, religion, alcohol and sport. Voices of ordinary people are mixed with those whose names still resonate today.

Captivating, revelatory, thought-provoking and very often moving, these are the authentic voices of the past, speaking to the present.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
ISBN: 9781405699273
Release date: January 27, 2006
Duration: 04:59:35
Number of parts: 4

1920 - 1929

Tim Pigott-Smith presents a unique audio snapshot of the history of the Twentieth Century. Released in ten volumes, Eyewitness provides a rare opportunity to hear the history of the 20th century described by those who were actually there. Tim Pigott-Smith weaves together fascinating reminiscences taken from the BBC archives – many previously unbroadcast – with an insightful commentary written by Joanna Bourke, Professor of History at Birkbeck College.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
ISBN: 9781405699280
Release date: November 16, 2005
Duration: 03:39:49
Number of parts: 3

1930 - 1939

PRESENTED BY TIM PIGOTT-SMITH

Eyewitness provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, Eyewitness examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.

Between the onset of the Depression in 1930 and the outbreak of war in 1939, social and political divisions deepened. Soaring unemployment, wage cuts and the Means Test humiliated workers, and discontent showed itself in mass demonstrations such as the Jarrow March. Fascism gained a toe-hold in the UK with Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists, and in 1936 the rival ideologies of fascism and communism found a battleground in the Spanish Civil War.

The decade provided few moments of celebration. Fred Perry won the Men’s Singles title at Wimbledon, and the coronation of George VI was a joyous occasion, but it was to be the last for some time. Voices such as Churchill and Chamberlain remind us of the political mood, but it is the testament of ordinary people buffeted by events beyond their control that are the most telling.

Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
ISBN: 9781405699297
Release date: November 16, 2005
Duration: 04:53:56
Number of parts: 4

1940 - 1949

Eyewitness provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke.

Eyewitness provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, Eyewitness examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.

In May 1940, Hitler invaded the Netherlands and the phoney war was over. It would take five years to defeat Nazi tyranny in Europe and finally, in August 1945, the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan to bring the Second World War to an end. Post-war Britain saw a return to austerity, but conditions gradually improved and the National Health Service came into being. Internationally, Soviet Russia retreated behind the Iron Curtain. A new enemy was defined – communism.

Servicemen and women remember the battles on air, sea and land; prisoners of war describe how they coped and civilians speak of bombs and doodlebugs. The words of Winston Churchill, JB Priestley and the irreverence of ITMA boosted morale in the darkest hours, and throughout it all the BBC’s own correspondents all over the world reported on this turbulent decade.

Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
Awards: Audie Award Nominee
ISBN: 9781405699303
Release date: January 27, 2006
Duration: 05:03:43
Number of parts: 4

1950 - 1959

Eyewitness provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, Eyewitness examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.

In 1951, the Festival of Britain celebrated a more egalitarian and peaceful society. Nevertheless young men were still called on to fight as conflicts erupted in Malaya, Korea, Cyprus and Suez. Then, as the nuclear threat increased, protestors took to the streets and CND was born.

This was the era of Angry Young Men, literate rebels against the old order: also of the Teddy Boy, creator of distinctive fashion, but representing a culture of violence and discrimination as seen in the Notting Hill race riots. Rock-and-roll caused riots of a different kind but produced Britain’s first true pop stars.

Alan Sillitoe, John Osborne, Joan Bakewell, Tommy Steele and Cliff Richard recall aspects of the decade, as do National Servicemen, Teddy Boys and the black community of Notting Hill.

Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
Awards: Audie Award Nominee
ISBN: 9781405699310
Release date: January 27, 2006
Duration: 04:37:12
Number of parts: 4

1960 - 1969

Eyewitness provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, Eyewitness examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.

The Sixties is one of the landmark decades of the 20th Century. An era of profound social revolution, it created, for good or ill, the permissive society. A repressive, paternalistic culture gave way to greater individual freedom and it was a good time to be young.

But although London was swinging, economic crises, cold war fears, industrial strife and an emerging drug culture dampened the optimism. By the end of the decade, man may have reached the moon, but in Northern Ireland discrimination and the revival of ancient hatreds had erupted into sectarian violence.

The voices of Harold Macmillan, Harold Wilson, Ian Paisley, Bernadette Devlin and Richard Ingrams; as well as students, feminists, Beatles fans and hippies; combine to throw light on this iconic decade.

Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
Awards: Audie Award Nominee
ISBN: 9781408416617
Release date: January 27, 2006
Duration: 04:35:41
Number of parts: 4

1970 - 1979

Authentic voices from the past illustrate this unique history of the Twentieth Century, written by Joanna Bourke and presented by Tim Pigott-Smith.

Eyewitness provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, Eyewitness examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.

The Seventies began with a spectacular obscenity trial and ended with Margaret Thatcher quoting St Francis of Assisi on the steps of Downing Street. In the years between, the Sixties’ social revolution settled into a variety of movements: feminist, gay, anarchist, punk. However, economic misery, burgeoning union power and carnage in Northern Ireland characterise the decade.

The miners’ strike and the three-day week toppled the Conservative Government in 1974, and the ‘Winter of Discontent’ defeated Labour in 1979. The horrors in Northern Ireland were unremitting. But the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon win provided moments of optimism.

Politicians including Margaret Thatcher, Harold Wilson and Edward Heath illustrate the mood of the decade, as do journalists, social commentators and DJs.

Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
ISBN: 9781405699327
Release date: January 27, 2006
Duration: 04:49:28
Number of parts: 4

1980 - 1989

Eyewitness provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, Eyewitness examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.

Conflict in many forms characterised the 1980s: war in the South Atlantic, the miners’ strike, social unrest and political polarisation. By 1981, unemployment had escalated dramatically and Margaret Thatcher’s popularity had plummeted. Victory in the Falklands revived Tory fortunes, but the fact that the Labour Party had rendered itself unelectable also helped. By the 1987 election, although Neil Kinnock had dealt with the hard left, it was not enough to dent Thatcher’s majority. Conservative hegemony was assured for the rest of the decade.

Solutions to the Northern Ireland situation remained as elusive as ever. The IRA’s Brighton bomb nearly wiped out Thatcher and her cabinet, and stunned the public. But throughout these years, there were moments of celebration. Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in July 1981, and England won the Ashes that summer. The decade ended on a note of hope: reform in the Soviet union spread outwards and in 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. The Cold War was over.

Bystanders, broadcasters and politicians describe these events and many others. History is heard in the making – for example with the Argentinean storming of the Falklands Broadcasting Station. While the 1980s are too close for a true historical perspective, what emerges here is that this decade was one of the most confrontational periods of the century.

Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
ISBN: 9781405699334
Release date: January 27, 2006
Duration: 04:58:23
Number of parts: 4

1990 - 1999

Authentic voices from the past illustrate this unique history of the twentieth century, written by Joanna Bourke and presented by Tim Pigott-Smith.

Eyewitness provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, Eyewitness examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.

Politics dominated the Nineties, from the toppling of the Iron Lady, ousted by her own party in 1990, to New Labour?s massive election victory.

The Gulf War caused controversy, with opponents questioning the need for war and supporters disappointed by its inconclusive ending. There was conflict in Bosnia too, and British troops were sent to the former Yugoslavia as part of the UN peacekeeping force.

The media remained preoccupied with celebrity and trivia, exemplified by the shocking death of Diana, Princess of Wales, pursued by paparazzi. The nation mourned, but there was good news in Northern Ireland at last, as a ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement brought an uneasy peace.

On December 31st 1999, the elite celebrated in the Millennium Dome. Apocalyptic fears proved groundless, and the Millennium Bug did not cause the expected chaos. The turbulent century came to a quiet end.

History Nonfiction

Publisher: AudioGO Ltd
Edition:
ISBN: 9781405626644
Release date: January 27, 2006
Duration: 04:58:49
Number of parts: 4