Product Description

Collected here for the first time are some of the numerous essays and lectures by Norman Davies, author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed "Europe, The Isles and Rising '44." Spanning more than fifteen years of his remarkable career, this highly accessible collection addresses many of the issues that continue to dominate the political and cultural climate of Europe today. In "Europe East and West", Davies argues for a comprehensive view that challenges Western stereotypes and no longer ignores the history and experience of Eastern Europe. He shows that the conventional exclusion of Central and Eastern Europe has led to serious shortcomings in our understanding of one of the most crucial episodes of European history, namely the Second World War. The essays confront prevalent distortions and prejudices; taken together, they also form a meditation on the art of history writing itself. From the classical origins of the idea of Europe to the division between East and West during the Cold War; from the Jewish and Islamic strands in European history to the expansion of Europe to other continents; from the misunderstood Allied victory in 1945 to Britain's place in Europe; from reflections on the use and abuse of history to personal recollections on learning languages - this companion volume to the bestselling "Europe" looks at European history from a variety of unusual and entertaining angles in an equally stimulating and accessible way.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #128728 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

The Herald
`Davies is a seismic writer'

Irish Times
`The essays challenge prejudices and distortions and are written with vigour, clarity and wit. Gems of wit abound'

From the Publisher
A new collection of essays from one of Britain's most renowned and respected historians - a companion volume to the bestselling Europe.

Customer Reviews

A good read
This book covers a number of topics which anyone familiar with the author's other writings will have encountered before. Foremost amongst these is his despair at the yawning gap in western awareness, historically and culturally, of east and central Europe, and the idea of British/English history as synonymous, and a separate development from the rest of the world. In attacking these mindsets the writing is, as ever, clear and in places more than a little amusing. The book seems at times a little self indulgent, particularly in the chapter given over to his alma mater, but when it is so well written, and by such a significant contributor to 'history', then I for one am prepared to forgive it.

Europe East & West
Norman Davis has once again come up with a thought-provoking book. An excellent read.