The Shortest History of Europe - Hardcover

John Hirst

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1906964424 ISBN 13: 9781906964429

Publisher: Old Street Publishing, 2010

Synopsis

Describing the birth of European civilisation from an unlikely mixture of three elements - classical learning, Christianity and German warrior culture - The Shortest History of Europe begins with a rapid historical overview from the ancient Greeks to the dawn of the modern era.

In each later chapter, the author returns to explore in more detail one aspect of Europe's remarkable history: its political evolution; its linguistic boundaries and their defining influence; the crucial role played by power struggles between Pope and Emperor; and the great invasions and conquests that have transformed the continent. Along the way we meet a cast of highly distinctive characters, from pious knights to belligerent popes, from German romantics spouting folklore to French revolutionaries imitating their Roman heroes.

Written with clarity, feeling and wit, The Shortest History of Europe is a tour-de-force of compression: it will be read in an afternoon, but remembered for a lifetime.

About this title

Review:

'A wise, illuminating little book'
Sydney Morning Herald

'An entertaining, learned piece of historical compression'
The Age

'Great stuff . . . constantly thought-provoking'
Courier Mail

'The balance of analysis and description, generalisation and specific instance, is beautifully maintained'
ABR --*

About the Author:

John Hirst is a widely respected historian and social commentator. A former reader in history at La Trobe University' he wrote the official history of Australia for new citizens and took a prominent part in the History Summit convened by the prime minister in 2006. He is a member of the Film Australia Board and the National Museum council.

About this edition

• Publisher: Old Street Publishing
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1906964424
• ISBN 13: 9781906964429
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160