About the Author

Tim Blanning is Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge. His other books include The Culture of Power and the Power of Culture and The Rise and Fall of the French Revolution.

Reviews

The Penguin History of Europe series ... is one of contemporary publishing's great projects
*New Statesman*

With five volumes now out, the Penguin History of Europe series ... is shaping up to be the best general account available, superseding all previous ones
*Economist*

Blanning (modern history, Cambridge) gives us a broad approach to European history, covering not only the traditional topics of war, diplomacy, and kings but also other interesting issues, such as transportation, marriage, law, and recreation. Since he writes well, making complex issues understandable and ably conveying what it was like to live during these epochs, this book will be a good resource for undergraduates and interested lay readers. Graduate students likewise will find Blanning's extensive discussions of historiography rewarding. The book does, however, suffer from a little "high history" during which the focus on everyday life becomes hard to find. For example, when Banning covers the Napoleonic Wars, he mentions little of how ordinary people were affected. He does, however, indicate the extent and depth of material confronting a historian (e.g., with a suggested reading section) and overall succeeds in conveying both social topics and the topics of traditional history. Recommended for larger public and all academic libraries.--Bryan Craig, MLS, Nellys-ford, VA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

The Penguin History of Europe series ... is one of contemporary publishing's great projects * New Statesman *
With five volumes now out, the Penguin History of Europe series ... is shaping up to be the best general account available, superseding all previous ones * Economist *