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A History in Fragments: Europe in the Twentieth Century |
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A History in Fragments: Europe in the Twentieth Century
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by Richard Vinen
Sales Rank: 990458
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$4.48
At Amazon
on 6-21-2008.
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Features
Cover Type: Paperback with 640 pages
Published by: Da Capo Press; Da Capo edition September 24, 2002
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 0306811790
ISBN 13 Number: 978-0306811791
Book Dimensions:
8.8 x 5.6 x 1.7 inches
Weighs: 1.7 pounds
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
A History in Fragments captures the sweep of an extraordinary century. Richard Vinen, a popular young London lecturer, traces Europe's tumultuous evolution from imperialism to democracy and cyberspace, "the new frontier." Rather than taking a political, cultural, or economic approach, Vinen combines all in a highly intelligent tour de force. He argues that the key to understanding 20th-century Europe is in its diversity, hence the book's title. Yet this does not do justice to the seamless way he ties together such overarching themes as the rise and fall of communism, the crumbling of social traditions, and total war. His command of vast quantities of material is awe- inspiring; his well-chosen anecdotes lively and right on the mark; his analyses pithy and easy to understand. For example, a simple comparison of the words "internationalism" as used by the communist camp and "globalization" as used by capitalists speaks volumes about the world view of the two ideologies. One of the book's many virtues is a refreshing objectivity. Conscious of his own prejudices as a middle-class British historian born in the 1960s, Vinen takes pains to see events from the viewpoints of those involved. A rather awkward section tucked before a chapter on post-war Europe presents striking photographs and a short essay on the use and manipulation of images in the 20th century. Instead of a list of histories and biographies, the bibliography includes useful short critiques of reference material. A History in Fragments inspires both optimism and cynicism in the reader but never boredom. This is drama on the grandest scale and history-telling at its best. --John Stevenson
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Europe's history in the past century has been marred by incredible brutality and constant ideological struggle, including the rise and fall of Nazism on the right and Communism on the left. In the decades after WWII, Europe has moved toward economic and political integration. Yet even today there seems to be as much that separates Europe as unites it. Vinen, who lectures in history at King's College in London, explores the diversity of European history by focusing on greater social, economic and cultural issues. He examines, among other things, the shifting roles of women, the impact of technological change, the relationship of labor unions to the overall economy, the power of the church and the emergence of popular culture. Vinen also describes in detail the birth of a new kind of political extremism in the interwar years: "The threat of communism in turn stimulated support for radical right counter-offensives [i.e., fascism], which further exacerbated conflict." WWII resulted in the separation of Europe into two opposing blocs, East and West. Vinen argues that a postwar consensus developed in Western Europe based on anticommunism, managed economies and a mass culture dominated by consumerism. In postwar Eastern Europe, communism ossified and, by the late 1980s, collapsed. Yet the absence of communism didn't lead inexorably to European unity: "The fall of the Berlin Wall did not unite Europe. Rather, it replaced a single, simple division of East and West with several more subtle divisions." Those interested in a more traditional history of events and politics may be put off by Vinen's focus on culture, social history and economics. But those with an open mind will find this book an ample source of new insight on 20th-century Europe. B&w photographs and maps.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reader Reviews
This review is from: A History in Fragments: Europe in the Twentieth Century (Hardcover)
I'm afraid this one runs a risk of being misunderstood. If you judge it as straight narrative it is indeed weak. But that's not its purpose. Rather it is an attempt, mostly successful, at social history beyond narrative. Read it with an ear for the detail: how the women's vote kept the Christian Democrats in power; how average civilian lifespan in Britain actually increaed during World War I-- and the wonderful bit about the disappearing wristwatch under the made-up red flag. He's also good at the shrewd aside: how we know more about the lives of 17 people around Gordon Square than of all of Serbia. As a title, "Fragments" is perhaps a confession more than a boast; Vinen does not always keep control of his material. But many of his fragments are too good to be missed.
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A History in Fragments: Europe in the Twentieth Century
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Updated on 6-21-2008.
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