WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY TIMOTHY GARTON-ASH A magisterial and acclaimed history of post-war Europe, from Germany to Poland, from Western Europe to Eastern Europe, selected as one of New York Times Ten Best Books of the Year Europe in 1945 was drained. Much of the continent was devastated by war, mass slaughter, bombing and chaos. Large areas of Eastern Europe were falling under Soviet control, exchanging one despotism for another. Today, the Soviet Union is no more and the democracies of the European Union reach as far as the ...
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WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY TIMOTHY GARTON-ASH A magisterial and acclaimed history of post-war Europe, from Germany to Poland, from Western Europe to Eastern Europe, selected as one of New York Times Ten Best Books of the Year Europe in 1945 was drained. Much of the continent was devastated by war, mass slaughter, bombing and chaos. Large areas of Eastern Europe were falling under Soviet control, exchanging one despotism for another. Today, the Soviet Union is no more and the democracies of the European Union reach as far as the borders of Russia itself. Postwar tells the rich and complex story of how we got from there to here, demystifying Europe's recent history and identity, of what the continent is and has been. 'It is hard to imagine how a better - and more readable - history of the emergence of today's Europe from the ashes of 1945 could ever be written...All in all, a real masterpiece' Ian Kershaw, author of Hitler '[Judt] dares to expound the sum total of Europe since 1945 in a seamless narrative... This is history-writing with a human face, as well as with brainpower' Norman Davies, Guardian 'Brilliant... Judt has written the standard reference work on European post-war history. It will provoke fruitful debate, but I find it hard to imagine that it will ever be surpassed.' Misha Glenny, Irish Times
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Add this copy of Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 to cart. $25.38, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2006 by Penguin Books.
The best book on WWII that I have read. Mr. Judt had incredible background knowledge on every one of the countries, both before and after the war, and goes over each ones strategy is detail for the rebuilding. His style, knowledge, facts and details are superb, and he tells it all very eloquently. I have read many books on WWII, all mostly about what took place during the actual event. This book is about the aftermath, which by comparison, is definitely the more complicated. It takes some time to read because you have to slow down and put things in their proper perspective, but the bottom line is this is a must read for anyone wanting to understand how and why the world developed into what it is today.
davidrasch
Jan 9, 2009
What Really did happen after the shooting
This is the first post war Europe book I've read. I was stationed in Eurpoe in the early 70, in Germany, so I had some idea of the topic. The author filled in the gaps between what I saw and what I thought I saw. Put me in some mind of DeTuqueville's narrative of the difference between North and South at their border. The true and real stoery is how the individual answered and lived with their answers to the conflict and its aftermath. A really good read.
milomilo
Jul 10, 2008
Europe's History 1945-2005
Can't be praised more highly. Narrative clear and gripping, analysis full of insight but easy to follow, coverage comprehensive, and little prior knowledge needed to follow it.
