William Irvine has narrated 7 audiobooks on Listento.it by 1 author, with an average listener rating of 4.8★ across 4 ratings. The most-rated is Ivan the Terrible: A Life From Beginning to End.
Ivan the Terrible: A Life From Beginning to End
Summary
Just what was so terrible about Ivan the Terrible? Most of us are familiar with this infamous nickname, but most fall short of being able to describe how he received such an ominous moniker. Maybe you’ve heard the stories of how Ivan killed his own son, poisoned his wives, and waged war on his neighbors, but these anecdotes are just minor details in the scheme of this man’s complicated life. Inside you will read about... Ivan, the Neglected Orphan Ivan’s Liberation of Slaves War in the Baltic Intrigue and Diplomacy Ivan’s Final Redemption Ivan’s Last Days And much more! Ivan IV, otherwise known as Ivan the Terrible, was born with a heavy burden on his shoulders. He was thrust into the seat of what the Russians considered the Third Rome, granting him all the rights and privileges of the official steward of Orthodox Christian civilization in the east. In order to hold on to that right, he did indeed do some pretty terrible things.
©2017 Hourly History (P)2017 Hourly History
Wars of the Roses: A History from Beginning to End
Summary
The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars in England fought between the House of Lancaster and the House of York between 1455 and 1485. Over a 30-year period, England had five rulers, three of whom were killed or executed. Power changed hands on even more occasions as an ineffective king, Henry VI, was subject to mental breakdowns. Protectors of the realm were regularly appointed to rule during these episodes, thereby disaffecting Henry’s ambitious queen, Margaret of Anjou. Though the battles fought were limited in scope, one of these, the Battle of Towton, is considered the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil. The nearby river was described as running red with the blood of some 38,000 soldiers who lost their lives that day. You will hear about.... Prelude to war: a house divided A mad monarch and his quarrelsome relatives The ultimate family feud The final battle The Tudor dynasty And much more! By the end of the Wars, a new dynasty - the Tudor dynasty - was born, the powers of the nobility were significantly diminished, and the system of feudalism was all but eradicated. The monarchy was strengthened, and the royal line of succession was secured for the Tudor line. As family feuds go, the Wars of the Roses were historically significant in changing the trajectory of power in England. This audiobook tells the compelling story of this tumultuous period in English history in succinct yet informative detail that is both educational and entertaining.
©2017 Hourly History (P)2017 Hourly History
Richard the Lionheart: A Life from Beginning to End
Summary
You might have heard of King Richard the Lionhearted, the “good king” in the tales of Robin Hood. But what do you really know about this 12th-century ruler of England? Do you know why he left England, or why he was taken prisoner by another sovereign as he tried to return? Did you know Richard had other brothers besides the famed scoundrel, Prince John? Have you heard tales of Richard not only as a missing king but as a leader who rode boldly into battle alongside his knights? You will learn about.... From Aquitaine to King of England Beginnings of a crusade The way to Palestine Sea battles and sieges A captive king The last five years And much more! In this audiobook, you’ll learn the actual story of King Richard, a king who may not have been exactly "good", but was certainly brave, charismatic, and dashing - a historical character with a story to remember.
©2017 Hourly History (P)2017 Hourly History
English Civil War: A History from Beginning to End
Summary
In 1642, King Charles I and the elected Parliament of England went to war over the future of the Stuart kingdom. Over the next nine years, three civil wars would be fought, devastating the populations of England, Scotland, and Ireland and claiming a death toll of an estimated 800,000 people, including King Charles I himself. You will hear about.... Reasons to go to war The First English Civil War: choose your side The First English Civil War: the war begins The First English Civil War: the war spreads The First English Civil War: a new model army The Second Civil War The Third Civil War With the authority of the monarchy, the freedom of Parliament, and the power of religion at stake, the English Civil Wars decided the future of Great Britain and influenced the future of politics around the world.
©2016 Hourly History (P)2017 Hourly History
Queen Victoria
Summary
The Queen of Great Britain and Ireland for 63 years, the mother of nine children and grandmother to 42, Queen Victoria’s life was one of magnificent proportions. Victoria’s childhood was difficult and lonely, but from the time she took the throne aged just 18, she blossomed into a powerful woman, both frivolous and formidable. You will hear about.... An unsentimental marriage Race to produce an heir Finally an adult and finally a queen V & A Die Shattenseite The Hungry Forties and Albert’s Great Exhibition "The Widow at Windsor" And much more! In her later years, Victoria struggled to find balance between her wish to live a very private life as a widow and her duty to live the very public life of a queen and later empress. The world Victoria was born into was a very different world to that which she left behind, and her life story is an incredible journey from infant heir to matriarchal queen and empress.
©2016 Hourly History (P)2017 Hourly History
King Arthur: A Life from Beginning to End
Summary
Dating back to the fifth century, the legend of King Arthur, his Queen Guinevere, and the Knights of the Round Table is an integral part of British national mythology. From its beginning as a few lines of Latin text written in a sixth-century monk’s hand, Arthurian legend has blossomed over the years into a unique universe built on the real foundations of Britain’s Dark Ages and the principles of ancient chivalry. Inside you will read about... The era of King Arthur Ambrosius Aurelianus King Arthur and the Celts Geoffrey of Monmouth King Arthur’s grave The Round Table And much more! Liberally expanded over the years to include romantic entanglements, an imaginary ancient empire, and the threat of the supernatural, the legend of King Arthur remains as engaging today as it was in medieval times. King Arthur’s life, whether it happened or not, cuts to the core of the Matter of Britain and reveals the heart of Britain’s fanciful idea of its origin.
©2017 Hourly History (P)2017 Hourly History
Charles Darwin: A Life from Beginning to End
Summary
Charles Darwin thought he would be a clergyman after an uneventful childhood, where he hated school but loved the natural world. All that would change when he was allowed to be a part of a worldwide expedition to faraway lands. He was able to collect specimens and keep notes on all he experienced. Inside you will hear about.... "Early Life and Education" "Round the World Aboard the Beagle" "Darwin's Evolutionary Theory" "Life Leading Up to Marriage" "Evolutionary Research" "The Theory of Natural Selection" "Darwin's Post-Publication Life" And much more! This audiobook takes a closer look at who Charles Darwin was, how he lived his everyday life and how influential he became; not just in his own day but into the modern world as well. Find out what interested his incredible mind and how Darwin presented his theories to a yet unsuspecting world. From beetles to butterflies, coral reefs and tropical islands, from apes to humans, learn how Charles Darwin's evidence speaks even to the world today.
©2016 Hourly History (P)2017 Hourly History