Customer Rating:  
Summary: Informative but dull.
Comment: J.M. Roberts, knows his subject, no doubt about that. He covers social, economic and cultural history over a period of 65 years. All important themes are covered, as you would expect from this type of book, such as the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire, both World Wars, rise of Fascism, Russian revolution etc. It is easy to navigate the chapters and find areas you are looking for.
However, this book is written in a dull, heavy style. Roberts seems to delight in long winded prose when making a point, not something that lends itself to easy reading. Certainly it has it's uses as a text for the undergraduate historian but for the casual reader it may be just a little too much.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Succinct yet breathtaking analysis of the period
Comment: Roberts' insight in to the shifting sands of European affairs is both concise and well argued. Structured argument and an interesting critique is inherent throughout, whilst evidence of a resounding depth of knowledge is ever present. A period, dogged by war, colonialism, and the emergence of powerful nation states is portrayed with resounding historical passion. The difficulties in dealing with such a tumultuous period of history are evident, yet they do not become burdensome to the point of detracting from the novel. 65 years which incorporate the zenith of Bismarcks political weight in Germany, the rise of the fascist state under Mussolini in Italy, and two wars which define the twentieth century for our generation, are vividly depicted. Innovative and charming, this book is imperative for an up to date understanding of the period.
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