The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers - Softcover

Kennedy, Professor Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0679720197 ISBN 13: 9780679720195

Publisher: Vintage, 1989

Synopsis

About national and international power in the "modern" or Post Renaissance period. Explains how the various powers have risen and fallen over the 5 centuries since the formation of the "new monarchies" in W. Europe.

About this title

Review:

‘A brilliantly original book...It is intended for the intelligent layman as well as the academic historian, combining in Toynbee-esque manner the sweeping conception with careful attention to historical detail’ Financial Times

‘This book is falling out of briefcases all over Washington DC, both because it looks and sounds erudite and because it purports to answer an increasingly common question: Has the United States already embarked on its journey into the sunset of empire? It is administering a lot of frissons to trend-watchers’ Christopher Hitchens

‘Outstanding...He ranges across five centuries and around the whole world. He seems to have read every relevant book in every possible language. And he has produced a general argument so deceptively simple that no politician, however busy, should ignore or misunderstand it’ Observer

‘One of the masterpieces of modern historical writing’ Daily Telegraph

‘A masterpiece of exposition. It is erudite and elegantly written’ New Society

‘A remarkable book...long, clever, often funny, and crammed with remarkable insights; it is tinged with the genius that unravels complexity’ Evening Standard

‘Shows a master historian’s ability to use evidence like a boxing champion’s uppercut’ TES

‘One of those rare (and irresistible) books which successfully combine the scope and sweep of ‘popular’ history with the discriminating rigour of professional historiography, making it both a bloody good read and a thought-provoking one’ Listener

From the Back Cover:

"Paul Kennedy has written a brilliantly original book which has become a best-seller in the US and made its author a pundit to be seen and heard.
It is intended for the intelligent layman as well as the academic historian, combining in Toynbee-esque manner the sweeping conception with careful attention to historical detail".
ZARA STEINER, 'Financial Times'

"One of those rare (and irresistible) books which successfully combines the scope and sweep of 'popular' history with the discriminating rigour of professional historiography, making it both a bloody good read and a thought-provoking one".
JOHN NAUGHTON, 'Listener'

"Despite the irresistible fascination of the subject, Paul Kennedy's outstanding new book is the first to tackle it with any real historical rigour.
He ranges across five centuries and around the whole world.
He seems to have read every relevant book in every possible language. And he has produced a general argument so deceptively simple that no politician, however busy, should ignore or misunderstand it. For Kennedy, the rise and fail of great military powers is ultimately determined by the material resources at their disposal."
DAVID CANNADINE, 'Observer'

"One of the masterpieces of modern historical writing".
CHRISTOPHER ANDREW, 'Daily Telegraph'

"A masterpiece of exposition. It is erudite and elegantly written".
LAWRENCE FREEDMAN, 'New Society'

"Shows a master historian's ability to use evidence like a boxing champion's uppercut".
CONRAD RUSSELL, 'TES'

"He has written a remarkable book, reported to be compulsory reading in exalted circles of Washington and Moscow. It is long, clever, often funny, and crammed with remarkable insights; it is tinged with the genius that unravels complexity".
ANDREW WHEATCROFT, 'Evening Standard'

About this edition

• Publisher: Vintage
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0679720197
• ISBN 13: 9780679720195
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 704