Customer Reviews
Informative but dull. - By: dragondrums, 18 Jan 2005 
J.M. Roberts, knows his subject, no doubt about that. He covers social, economic & cultural history over a period of 65 years. All important themes are covered, as you would expect from this type of book, such as the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire, both World Wars, rise of Fascism, Russian revolution etc. It is easy to navigate the chapters & find areas you are looking for.
However, this book is writtenin a dull, heavy style. Roberts seems to delightin long winded prose when making a point, not something that lends itself to easy reading. Certainly it has it's uses as a text for the undergraduate historian but for the casual reader it may be just a little too much.
Succinct yet breathtaking analysis of the period - By: , 15 Nov 2001 
Roberts' insightin to the shifting sands of European affairs is both concise & well argued. Structured argument & an interesting critique is inherent throughout, whilst evidence of a resounding depth of knowledge is ever present. A period, dogged by war, colonialism, & the emergence of powerful nation states is portrayed with resounding historical passion. The difficultiesin dealing with such a tumultuous period of history are evident, yet they do not become burdensome to the point of detracting from the novel. 65 years which incorporate the zenith of Bismarcks political weightin Germany, the rise of the fascist state under Mussoliniin Italy, & two wars which define the twentieth century for our generation, are vividly depicted. Innovative & charming, this book is imperative for an up to date understanding of the period.
