Europe: A History: A Panorama of Europe, East and West, From the Ice Age to the Cold War, From the Urals to Gibraltar

Amazon.com Review With \*Europe: A History\*, University of London professor Norman Davies has undertaken the near impossible: a synthetic one-volume overview of Europe from prehistory through the present. Remarkably, he has succeeded. \*Europe: A History\* is a conventional narrative, proceeding forward in time at a gradually decelerating pace. (The beginning covers millions of years of prehistory, while the final chapter discusses the 46 years between World War II and the book's publication.) But Davies's writing--vigorous, incisive, and confidently knowledgeable--carries the reader along, while the steady sweep of the main narrative is broken up by "capsules," boxed passages examining particular places, customs, or issues that cut across chronological lines. Davies, who has written two books on Polish history, also gives the eastern part of Europe its due coverage, unlike many of his predecessors, and manages to include commoners and the persecuted or ignored in his story along with the mighty and the royal. \*Europe: A History\* won't please everybody, but it's a highly intelligent, superbly readable overview that is certain to become a standard text. From 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. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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 Front Cover Praises Title Page Copyright Dedication Preface Table of Contents List of Maps The Legend of Europa Introduction I. Peninsula: Environment and Prehistory II. Hellas: Ancient Greece III. Roma: Ancient Rome, 753 BC–AD 337 IV. Origo: The Birth of Europe, AD c.330–800 V. Medium: The Middle Age, c.750–1270 VI. Pestis: Christendom in Crisis, c.1250–1493 VII. Renatio: Renaissances and Reformations, c.1450-1670 VIII. Lumen: Enlightenment and Absolutism, c.1650–1789 IX. Revolutio: A Continent in Turmoil, c.1770–1815 X. Dynamo: Powerhouse of the World, 1815–1914 XI. Tenebrae: Europe in Eclipse, 1914–1945 XII. Divisa et Indivisa: Europe Divided and Undivided, 1945–1991 Notes to Chapters The Legend of Europa Introduction Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chpater XII Notes to Capsules Appendix I. List of Capsules Appendix II. Notes on Plates and Acknowledgements Appendix III. Historical Compendium Selective Index Back Cover Plates 1–37 Plates 38–72 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.