A Concise History of Bulgaria (Cambridge Concise Histories) [Paperback]

R. J. Crampton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 052156719X | ISBN-13: 978-0521567190 | Publication Date: January 28, 1997

This book provides a general introduction to the history of Bulgaria and the Bulgarians. The text and illustrations trace the rich and dramatic story from the days when Bulgaria was the centre of a powerful medieval empire, through the long centuries of Ottoman rule, to the cultural renaissance of the nineteenth century and the political upheavals of our own century. Independence, when achieved, posed its own problems. The most persistent - that of the frontiers and territorial dissatisfaction - led Bulgaria into three wars during the twentieth century. In all three Bulgaria emerged as a loser, yet war did not always bring dishonour: for example, Bulgaria managed to save its Jews from deportation to the gas chambers during the second world war. Communist domination seemed to merge Bulgaria into the Soviet orbit but, as the post-communist years have shown, Bulgaria and the Bulgarians have a sturdy sense of national pride and identity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Crampton, in A Concise History of Bulgaria has produced a valuable introduction to the history of the Bulgarian people and their state....R.J. Crampton's A Concise History of Bulgaria is the best short treatment of the history of Bulgaria currently available." James R. Payton, Jr., Canadian Journal of History

Book Description

For the increasing number of western travellers who visit Bulgaria either on holiday or on business, this is the ideal introduction to the country's fascinating past. The rich and dramatic story of the Bulgarians is traced from medieval times through Ottoman rule and the cultural flowering of the nineteenth century to the turbulent years of the twentieth century.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 277 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052156719X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521567190
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,112,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > History > Europe > Bulgaria

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and easy to read, April 5, 2000

By 

Matthew Fanetti, Ph.D. - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Concise History of Bulgaria (Cambridge Concise Histories) (Paperback)

This book presents the history of this country in a surprisingly thorough manner for a shorter history book. The struggles and strife of a people and a country are excellently portrayed with clarity and a hint at the emotions they must have felt. The struggle to protect the borders of the land from powerful enemies coming from all directions provides an interesting theme which kept me reading. I was also emotionally touched by the bravery of these people in defying Hitler and refusing to send Jews to their deaths during WWII.

I was inspired to begin learning in more detail about periods and events in Bulgarian History.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bulgaria - All You Need to Know, May 16, 2000

By 

Marshall Lee Miller - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Concise History of Bulgaria (Cambridge Concise Histories) (Paperback)

Bulgaria is a little-known but fascinating country that has labored for years in obscurity. It has always been behind some Curtain--the Iron Curtain for four decades, the Ottoman Curtain for five centuries, and Byzantium before that. Until now, there have been only a handful of scholarly books on the country, and these have been on narrow periods or topics. There hasn't been a book that would allow an educated reader to get a grasp of the country as a whole. Now there is. This book, by a noted Oxford scholar, is clear, concise, and yet reasonably short. Recommended.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Pretty Good Book, September 27, 2000

By 

Gary N. Clark "Gary N. Clark, CFA" (La Crescenta, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Concise History of Bulgaria (Cambridge Concise Histories) (Paperback)

I found this book to be a good coverage of the subject matter, starting mainly about 600 AD and moving forward. I found the subject matter to be very interesting, partly because I knew so little about Bulgaria. Reading this book enhances my understanding of Greek, Serbian, and Turkish history (such as it is). This is an area left out of my earlier education, and this book does of good job of efficiently relating the broad sweep of Bulgarian history. At times I felt the book might have benefited from a more in depth discussion of the contemporary economic, intellectual, or cultural context bearing on certain events or trends. On the other hand, the author does not get bogged down in interesting trivia. The author does a good job of relating the main events in Bulgaria of the past 1400 years, and I enjoyed reading it.