Tracing the story of post-war Europe and its changing role in the world, Judt's magnificent history of the continent of our times investigates the political, social and cultural history of Europe from the wreckage of post-war Europe to the expansion of the EU into the former Soviet empire. Judt's stress is on the continent as a whole, from Greece to Norway, from Portugal to Russia. This, uniquely, is a history that pays due attention to both Western and Eastern Europe, to cultural and social developments as to political and ...
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Tracing the story of post-war Europe and its changing role in the world, Judt's magnificent history of the continent of our times investigates the political, social and cultural history of Europe from the wreckage of post-war Europe to the expansion of the EU into the former Soviet empire. Judt's stress is on the continent as a whole, from Greece to Norway, from Portugal to Russia. This, uniquely, is a history that pays due attention to both Western and Eastern Europe, to cultural and social developments as to political and diplomatic events. Throughout, Judt shows how politics, society, culture, and popular culture influenced each other. A masterly and definitive history of our continent in a crucial period of its history, Europe in our time.
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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.
