Listen to a sample
Collapse
- Author
- Jonathan Fennell
- Narrator
- Nikolas Salmon
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Publish Date
- 16 July 2026
- Run Time
- 25 hours 10 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Rating
- 5.0 (1 review)
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What to expect
The first volume of a ground-breaking and truly global trilogy on the Second World War, from an exciting, prize-winning academic.
Between 1931 and 1949, a series of crises threatened world order and the very functioning of states, as well as destroying or changing millions of ordinary people’s lives. At the heart of these upheavals was an all-encompassing war that was a watershed moment in modern history.
Collapse tells the story of the first part of this "Greater Second World War,” from 1931-1941, weaving multiple international trends, theatres of war and home fronts into a single, compelling global narrative. It shows from all sides what influenced the key campaigns, and the great shifts in power and society that accompanied them.
Combining brand new sources in 14 languages from over 50 archives around the world, and a highly original approach that explores the personal alongside the political, Professor Jonathan Fennell shows in vivid colour how a world that many considered civilised collapsed into barbarity.
By using immersive storytelling and a cast of characters from well-known political and literary figures to everyday citizens around the world – including not only “bands of brothers” but also less well-known “sisters in arms” and “war-woven lovers” – he explores what it really meant to live through this violent upheaval.
This is a landmark work from an outstanding historian that transforms our understanding of this monumental conflict.
'An incredible story . . . absolutely recommend it' Al Murray, on Fighting the People's War
© Jonathan Fennell 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Critics Review
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Fennell marshals a host of original insights and judgements in a narrative of terrific verve. A dismayingly high proportion of histories of almost everything, but especially the Second World War, tell us nothing we did not know already. This book is an exception. I learnt much from Fennell's book and expect to learn more from his two volumes to come. Superb.
Max Hastings, Sunday Times
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'Collapse uses this prodigious, cutting-edge research to create a highly readable book . . . the personal stories offer vivid counterpoint to the political . . . [An] outstanding first volume’
New Statesman
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'Original and thought-provoking . . . Collapse represents an ambitious and scholarly achievement . . . If the next two volumes are as accomplished as this one, Jonathan Fennell will have produced an indispensable account of the Second World War. '
Literary Review
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'His first-rate scholarship and fine writing demonstrate that he more than has the wherewithal to make the entire trilogy a dramatic success. His descriptions are fascinating and conclusions challenging'
Aspects of History
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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'[A] weighty, admirably uncomfortable account [by] an impressively diligent and thoughtful young historian … This is a fascinating and important book, which brings together a mass of information … never before assembled under one roof.'
Sunday Times
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'A richly documented, provocative and convincing study.'
The Times Literary Supplement
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'This is an outstanding book, based on immersion in archives across the globe. Rich in insights, it demands that we rethink the way we view the armies of the British Empire in the Second World War.'
Gary Sheffield, author of A Short History of the First World War, on Fighting the People's War
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'This is a hugely impressive, sweepingly ambitious book which brings together the military histories of all the British Commonwealth nations for the first time. It asks vital questions about the relationship between wartime experience, society, and politics in a unique transnational way. A remarkable and valuable achievement.'
Alan Allport, on Fighting the People's War
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'An absolutely fascinating and fresh account of the Commonwealth armies at war … very well written and totally accessible. It contains a wealth of information that is fresh and new, and Fennell's insights on subjects that many might imagine are familiar will be of real interest … Highly recommended.'
Military History Matters
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'Jonathan Fennell's astonishing book is full of compelling arguments that complete the puzzle of British, Commonwealth and Imperial victory in WW2. It's quite fantastic and revealing … an incredible story. Absolutely recommend it.'
Al Murray, on Fighting the People's War
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
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5.0 5.0
This is an astonishingly good piece of work whereby the Author has managed to blend global geopolitics with operational level detail whilst weaving in personal stories that allow the reader to experience some of the challenges this period brought, - and which includes facts and hypotheses and myth busting not heard before. First of a three book trilogy, this is by far the most comprehensive account I have read and I thoroughly look forward to the next volume.
Orchard363 2026-09-19
Details
- Author
- Jonathan Fennell
- Narrator
- Nikolas Salmon
- Duration
- 25 hours 10 minutes
- Release Date
- 16 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9781405983501
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Genre
- Second World War, Social and cultural history, Economic history, Political science and theory
- Rating
- 5.0(1 review)
- Narration
- 5.0(1 review)
Synopsis
The first volume of a ground-breaking and truly global trilogy on the Second World War, from an exciting, prize-winning academic.Between 1931 and 1949, a series of crises threatened world order and the very functioning of states, as well as destroying or changing millions of ordinary people’s lives. At the heart of these upheavals was an all-encompassing war that was a watershed moment in modern history.Collapse tells the story of the first part of this "Greater Second World War,” from 1931-1941, weaving multiple international trends, theatres of war and home fronts into a single, compelling global narrative. It shows from all sides what influenced the key campaigns, and the great shifts in power and society that accompanied them.Combining brand new sources in 14 languages from over 50 archives around the world, and a highly original approach that explores the personal alongside the political, Professor Jonathan Fennell shows in vivid colour how a world that many considered civilised collapsed into barbarity.By using immersive storytelling and a cast of characters from well-known political and literary figures to everyday citizens around the world – including not only “bands of brothers” but also less well-known “sisters in arms” and “war-woven lovers” – he explores what it really meant to live through this violent upheaval.This is a landmark work from an outstanding historian that transforms our understanding of this monumental conflict.'An incredible story . . . absolutely recommend it' Al Murray, on Fighting the People's War© Jonathan Fennell 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
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