Listen to Journey to the Abyss: The Diaries of Count Harry Kessler 1880-1918 by Harry Kessler

Enjoy this audiobook with MP3 Audiobook Player - the ultimate iOS audiobook experience

Audiobook Journey to the Abyss: The Diaries of Count Harry Kessler 1880-1918 by Harry Kessler
Download from App Store

Book Description

These fascinating, never-before-published early diaries of Count Harry Kessler—patron, museum director, publisher, cultural critic, soldier, secret agent, and diplomat—present a sweeping panorama of the arts and politics of Belle Époque Europe, a glittering world poised to be changed irrevocably by the Great War. Kessler’s immersion in the new art and literature of Paris, London, and Berlin unfolds in the first part of the diaries. This refined world gives way to vivid descriptions of the horrific fighting on the Eastern and Western fronts of World War I, the intriguing private discussions among the German political and military elite about the progress of the war, as well as Kessler’s account of his role as a diplomat with a secret mission in Switzerland. Profoundly modern and often prescient, Kessler was an erudite cultural impresario and catalyst who as a cofounder of the avant-garde journal Pan met and contributed articles about many of the leading artists and writers of the day. In 1903 he became director of the Grand Ducal Museum of Arts and Crafts in Weimar, determined to make it a center of aesthetic modernism together with his friend the architect Henry van de Velde, whose school of design would eventually become the Bauhaus. When a public scandal forced his resignation in 1906, Kessler turned to other projects, including collaborating with the Austrian writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal and the German composer Richard Strauss on the opera Der Rosenkavalier and the ballet The Legend of Joseph, which was performed in 1914 by the Ballets Russes in London and Paris. In 1913 he founded the Cranach-Presse in Weimar, one of the most important private presses of the twentieth century.  The diaries present brilliant, sharply etched, and often richly comical descriptions of his encounters, conversations, and creative collaborations with some of the most celebrated people of his time: Otto von Bismarck, Paul von Hindenburg, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Diaghilev, Vaslav Nijinsky, Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, Sarah Bernhardt, Friedrich Nietzsche, Rainer Marie Rilke, Paul Verlaine, Gordon Craig, George Bernard Shaw, Harley Granville-Barker, Max Klinger, Arnold Böcklin, Max Beckmann, Aristide Maillol, Auguste Rodin, Edgar Degas, Éduard Vuillard, Claude Monet, Edvard Munch, Ida Rubinstein, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Pierre Bonnard, and Walther Rathenau, among others. Remarkably insightful, poignant, and cinematic in their scope, Kessler’s diaries are an invaluable record of one of the most volatile and seminal moments in modern Western history.

User Reviews

Silent
 avatar
Silent

With ListenBook, I can explore new genres, learn new topics, and enjoy classic literature with ease. The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a delightful feature. Sharing is caring!

Poptart AK47
 avatar
Poptart AK47

Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable. Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a fun way to personalize the listening experience. Looping playback is an invaluable tool for my study sessions. It helps me grasp complex concepts. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!

Feral Mayhem
 avatar
Feral Mayhem

The ListenBook app is a fantastic companion for my long walks, helping me learn and explore at the same time. ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay has made my drives more informative. ListenBook has redefined my audiobook experience. It's a true companion for all my literary adventures. This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.

Good William
 avatar
Good William

🎙️ Elevating grocery shopping to a whole new level – audiobooks make it an adventure! 🛒📚 Looping playback has taken my language learning to new heights. Highly recommended! Navigating through chapters is a breeze. I can easily jump to the parts I want to listen to. Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus!

Viceswerve
 avatar
Viceswerve

I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.

Referee
 avatar
Referee

🌟 Elevating everyday moments – this app adds an extra layer of magic to every aspect of my day. 📚✨ 🚗📚 Turn traffic into a literary escape – this app's functionality keeps me engaged while I'm on the move. 🚗🎧 ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!

Why Choose MP3 Audiobook Player?

Wide Format Support

Plays MP3, MP4, OPUS, OGG, FLAC, AWB, M4B, M4A, WMA, AAC formats

All iOS Devices

Optimized for iPhone, iPad, and iPod with seamless integration

Speed Control

Adjust playback speed from 0.5x to 3.0x for your listening preference

Multiple Download Methods

Import audiobooks via iTunes, cloud services, or direct downloads

How It Works

1. Download Audiobooks

Get your favorite audiobooks in supported formats from various sources

2. Add to App

Import audiobooks to MP3 Audiobook Player using multiple methods

3. Listen & Enjoy

Control playback from your device, headphones, Apple Watch, or CarPlay

Advanced Features

For Fiction Listening

  • Edit metadata and covers
  • Equalizer and sound enhancement
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Dark mode and themes
  • Auto-bookmarks and AirPlay support

For Audio Lectures

  • Unlimited bookmarks
  • Custom covers and organization
  • Sleep timer and auto-rewind
  • Noise reduction and voice enhancement
  • Lock screen and Control Center controls

Start Listening to Journey to the Abyss: The Diaries of Count Harry Kessler 1880-1918 Today

Join thousands of users who enjoy audiobooks with MP3 Audiobook Player daily

Download Now