Europe: A history: A panorama of Europe, East and West, from the Ice Age to the Cold War, from the Urals to Gibraltar

From the Ice Age to the Cold War and beyond, from Reykjavik to Riga, from Archimedes to Einstein, Alexander to Yeltsin, here between the covers of a single volume Norman Davies tells the story of Europe, East and West, from prehistory to the present day. The book's absorbing narrative lays down the chronological and geographical grid on which the dramas of European history have been played out. It zooms in from the distant focus of Chapter One, which explores the first five million years of the continent's evolution, to the close focus of the lasttwo chapters, which cover the twentieth century at roughly one page per year. In between, Norman Davies presents a huge and sweeping canvas packed with fascinating detail, analysis, and anecdote. Alongside Europe's better-known stories - human, national, and continental - he brings into focus areasoften ignored or misunderstood, remembering the stateless nation as well as the nation-state. Minority communities, from heretics and lepers to Jews, Romanies, and Muslims have not been forgotten. This masterly history reveals not only the rich variety of Europe's past but also the many and rewarding prisms through which it can be viewed. Each chapter contains a selection of telephoto 'capsules', illustrating narrower themes and topics that cut across the chronological flow. Davies thenconcludes with a wide-angle 'snapshot' of the whole continent as seen from one particular vantage point. The overall effect is stunning: a kind of historical picture album, with panoramic tableaux interspersed by detailed insets and close-ups. Never before has such an ambitious history of Europe been attempted. In range and ambition, the originality of its structure and glittering style, Norman Davies's Europe represents one of the most important and illuminating history books to be published by Oxford. Time Capsules 201 fascinating articles interspersed throughout the narrative focus on incidents or topics as various as The Iceman of the Alps, Erotic Graffiti at Pompeii, Stradivarius, and Psychoanalysing Hitler. Each capsule can be tasted as a separate self-contained morsel; or can be read in conjunction withthe narrative into which it is inserted. Snapshots 12 panoramic overviews across the changing map of Europe freeze the frames of the chronological narrative at moments of symbolic importance, such as Knossos 1628 BC, Constantinople AD 330, and Nuremberg 1945. A fully illustrated history Incorporates over 100 superbly detailed maps and diagrams, and 32 pages of black and white plates.

here Is A Masterpiece Of Historical Narrative That Stretches From The Ice Age To The Atomic Age, As It Tells The Story Of Europe, East And West. Norman Davies Captures It All-the Rise And Fall Of Rome, The Sweeping Invasions Of Alaric And Atilla, The Norman Conquests, The Papal Struggles For Power, The Renaissance And The Reformation, The French Revolution And The Napoleonic Wars, Europe's Rise To Become The Powerhouse Of The World, And Its Eclipse In Our Own Century, Following Two Devastating World Wars. This Is The First Major History Of Europe To Give Equal Weight To Both East And West, And It Shines Light On Fascinating Minority Communities, From Heretics And Lepers To Gypsies, Jews, And Muslims. It Also Takes An Innovative Approach, Combining Traditional Narrative With Unique Features That Help Bring History Alive: 299 Time Capsules Scattered Through The Narrative Capture Telling Aspects Of An Era. 12 -snapshots Offer A Panoramic Look At All Of Europe At A Particular Moment In History. Full Coverage Of Eastern Europe—100 Maps And Diagrams, 72 Black-and-white Plates.all Told, Davies’'s Europe Represents One Of The Most Important And Illuminating Histories To Be Published In Recent Years.

publishers Weekly

the Pre-eminent Scholar Of Polish History, Davies (god's Playground And heart Of Europe) Expands His Focus To All Of Europe. While The Book Is Bulky, Its Size Is Hardly Adequate To A Complete History Of The Continent From Pre-history To The Dismantling Of The Soviet Union. In Addition, As One Might Expect, Davies Has Taken Great Pains To Treat Countries Other Than England, France And Germany As Legitimate Parts Of Europe Not Just As The Thresholds Over Which Barbarians Crossed. (for Some Reason It Has Been The Fashion Among Some Historians To Minimize The Impact Of The Magyars, Davies Writes When Discussing What Would Become Central Europe. All This Means Is That The Magyars Did Not Reach Cambridge.) The Book Works Because His Subject Is Not The Constituent Countries But The Continent As A Whole. Thus, While Elizabeth I Gets One Brief Mention In Passing, Aristide Briand, The French Foreign Minister Who Tried To Effect A Franco-german Reconciliation Until The Nazis Won Power, Gets Several Paragraphs. Aside From Defining What Europe Is And Giving All Countries Their Due, Davies Also Tries To Show The Joys Of An Inclusive Reading Of Historical Subjects (he Disparages Excessive Specialization And Writes Admiringly Of The Annales School). A Master Of Broad-brushstroke Synthesis, Davies Navigates Through The Larger Historical Currents With The Detail Necessary To A Well-written Engaging Narrative. (oct.)

"Here is a masterpiece of historical narrative that stretches from the Ice Age to the Atomic Age, as it tells the story of Europe, East and West. Norman Davies captures it all-the rise and fall of Rome, the sweeping invasions of Alaric and Atilla, the Norman Conquests, the Papal struggles for power, the Renaissance and the Reformation, the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, Europe's rise to become the powerhouse of the world, and its eclipse in our own century, following two devastating World Wars. This is the first major history of Europe to give equal weight to both East and West, and it shines light on fascinating minority communities, from heretics and lepers to Gypsies, Jews, and Muslims. It also takes an innovative approach, combining traditional narrative with unique features that help bring history alive: 299 time capsules scattered through the narrative capture telling aspects of an era. 12 -snapshots offer a panoramic look at all of Europe at a particular moment in history. Full coverage of Eastern Europe--100 maps and diagrams, 72 black-and-white plates. All told, Davies's Europe represents one of the most important and illuminating histories to be published in recent years."--Publisher's description This historical narrative stretches from the Ice Age to the Atomic Age, as it tells the story of Europe, East and West. It includes the rise and fall of Rome, the sweeping invasions of Alaric and Attila, the Norman Conquests, the Papal struggles for power, the Renaissance and the Reformation, the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, Europe's rise to become the powerhouse of the world, and its eclipse in our own century, following two devastating World Wars. This is the first major history of Europe to give equal weight to both East and West, and it shines light on minority communities, from heretics and lepers to Gypsies, Jews, and Muslims. It also takes an innovative approach, combining traditional narrative with unique features that help bring history alive: 299 time capsules scattered through the narrative capture telling aspects of an era. (Adapted from review on website Amazon, Barnes & Noble: Europe: A History - Review 0060974680 http://www.10books.com/Europe:A+History/ - accessed 23/10/2006) From the ice age to the Cold War, from Reykjavik to the Volga, from Minos to Margaret Thatcher, Norman Davies here tells the entire history of Europe in one single volume. The narrative zooms in from the distant focus of Chapter One, which explores the first five million years of the continent's development, to the close focus of the last two chapters, which cover the twentieth century at roughly one page per year. In between, Norman Davies presents a vast canvas packed with startling detail and thoughtful analysis. Alongside Europe's better-known stories - human, national and international - he examines subjects often spurned or neglected - Europe's stateless nations, for example, as well as the nation-states and great powers, and the minority groups from heretics and lepers to Romanies, Jews, and Muslims. He reveals not only the rich diversity of Europe's past but also the numerous prisms through which it can be viewed Europe – and the question of whether to stay in or leave – has dominated British politics for the last three years. Yet how much do you really know about the Continent? From the Ice Age to the Cold War, from Reykjavik to the Volga, from Minos to Margaret Thatcher, Norman Davies tells the entire story of Europe in a single volume. Discover the most ambitious history of the continent ever undertaken. 'Any European or world citizen should read this... History that illuminates the present day' Big Issue From The Ice Age To The Cold War, From Reykjavik To The Volga, From Minos To Margaret Thatcher, Norman Davies Here Tells The Entire Story Of Europe In A Single Volume. It Is The Most Ambitious History Of The Continent Ever Undertaken. From Minos to Margaret Thatcher, the Ice Age to the Cold War, from Reykjavik to the Volga, Norman Davies' sweeping history of Europe is compact, readable and comprehensive. This book is not just about Western Europe but all of Europe From the Ice Age to the Cold War, from Reykjavik to the Volga, from Minos to Margaret Thatcher, this book tells the entire story of Europe in a single volume. It was chosen ten times as Book of the Year. Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.