THE INVENTION OF PREHISTORY Empire, Violence, and Our Obsession with Human Origins

Narrator Elizabeth Wiley is a gifted enunciator, adept at delivering the full weight and value of every word. For this expansive survey of how theories of prehistory have shaped thinking and events over the past three centuries, she maintains a steady pace and a level tone. In these ways she keeps grounded a narrative that takes enormous leaps in time and locale. Wiley proves the ideal complement to historian Stefanos Geroulanos's provocative and incisive review of humankind's origin story as it's been construed by figures as far apart as Rousseau and Hitler. One learns a great deal, too, about our current knowledge of prehistory, along with its role in recorded history. Deeply satisfying and highly stimulating on a single listen, this thought-provoking narrative rewards repeated listening. D.A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2024]