THE GUN, THE SHIP, AND THE PEN Warfare, Constitutions, and the Making of the Modern World

Narrating this broad history, Susan Ericksen combines respect for the author's work with the tone and phrasing needed to make listening enjoyable. Ericksen's slow enunciation is fitting but will challenge some listeners' ability to track the ideas in longer sentences. But with her grasp of the author's intentions never in doubt, the work holds together with satisfying coherence. Tracing the global spread of constitutions from 1750 to the present, British historian Linda Colley shows how these foundational documents were needed by emerging nations to secure the rights of men so they would agree to be taxed and sent to war on land and sea. Her smooth writing shows how cultural and literary trends shaped constitutions, and how colorful leaders helped them spread across six continents. T.W. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2021]