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Jerusalem cover art

Jerusalem

Written by: Simon Sebag Montefiore
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's Summary

Jerusalem is the universal city, the capital of two peoples, the shrine of three faiths; it is the prize of empires, the site of Judgement Day and the battlefield of today’s clash of civilizations. From King David to Barack Obama, from the birth of Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the Israel-Palestine conflict, this is the epic history of three thousand years of faith, slaughter, fanaticism and coexistence. 

How did this small, remote town become the Holy City, the “center of the world” and now the key to peace in the Middle East? In a gripping narrative, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals this ever-changing city in its many incarnations, bringing every epoch and character blazingly to life. Jerusalem’s biography is told through the wars, love affairs and revelations of the men and women - kings, empresses, prophets, poets, saints, conquerors and whores - who created, destroyed, chronicled and believed in Jerusalem. As well as the many ordinary Jerusalemites who have left their mark on the city, its cast varies from Solomon, Saladin and Suleiman the Magnificent to Cleopatra, Caligula and Churchill; from Abraham to Jesus and Muhammad; from the ancient world of Jezebel, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod and Nero to the modern times of the Kaiser, Disraeli, Mark Twain, Lincoln, Rasputin, Lawrence of Arabia and Moshe Dayan. 

Drawing on new archives, current scholarship, his own family papers and a lifetime’s study, Montefiore illuminates the essence of sanctity and mysticism, identity and empire in a unique chronicle of the city that many believe will be the setting for the Apocalypse. This is how Jerusalem became Jerusalem, and the only city that exists twice - in heaven and on earth.  

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2011 Simon Sebag Montefiore (P)2011 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“Magnificent . . . The city’s first ‘biography’ - a panoptic narrative of its rulers and citizens, heroes and villains, harlots and saints . . . Montefiore barely misses a trick or a character in taking us through the city’s story with compelling, breathless tension.” (Norman Lebrecht, Wall Street Journal)

“Impossible to put down . . . A vastly enjoyable chronicle [with] many fascinating asides . . . Montefiore has a fine eye for the telling detail, and also a powerful feel for a good story.” (Jonathan Rosen, New York Times Book Review)

“Magisterial . . . As a writer, Montefiore has an elegant turn of phrase and an unerring ear for the anecdote that will cut to the heart of a story . . . It is this kind of detail that makes Jerusalem a particular joy to read.” (The Economist)

What listeners say about Jerusalem

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Comprehensive content but disappointing narration

While the content is very comprehensive and well researched, the reader is disappointing. He reads mechanically, no intonation whatsoever, just spews out one fact after another. Also he mispronounces EVERY Hebrew and Russian name, which is very annoying; he is better, I believe, with some of the Arabic names, and tolerable with French names. Not sure I'll listen to this audio book again as I often do with other titles.

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History defines our present

Even though one could get lost in the many names mentioned in this story, the backbone of the description is fascinating. I will be travelling to Jerusalem and now feel better prepared.

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Solid

Good book, but he tends to drift to different areas. Spends alot of time talking about the rest of the world, as well as plugging his own family at one point.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Very interesting history

This is a great book to provide a giant overview of one city and the incredibly important role that it has played in history. Extremely interesting throughout, and the narrator is awesome. It can be tough to keep track of all the names at times, but it doesn't take away from the interest of the book.

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