Customer Reviews

A History of Modern Europe, Volume Two: From the French Revolution to the Present

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

. . . I am giving John Merriman's A HISTORY OF MODERN EUROPE (Vol. 2, French Revolution to Present) five stars because I think it offers a better survey of the topic than older books on the subject. While this book pretty much operates under a "big-man" theory of history, it does mention social and economic trends, along with a nod, via color plating, to changing trends in art. It would have been nicer to have more of the kind of history that doesn't fall under military/diplomatic lines, but at some point, had Merriman tried to discuss everything, we'd have left a comprehensive history and begun a multi-volume encyclopedia!

I also appreciated Merriman's well-measured and friendly prose style, which is discursive without being digressive. Contemporary political cartoons and made objects are pictured in A HISTORY OF MODERN EUROPE, as well as the maps and portraits we would expect.

If you can find a better comprehensive history, buy it. I myself can find none better.

Merriman, who is the author of several lucid histories on early modern France, has taken on the entire landscape of modern Europe. His treatment of industrial and imperialist developments in Western and Central Europe is especially noteworthy. (Volume I of his work covers the Renaissance to Napoleon.) I would have liked to see attention given to southern and eastern European social issues. But overall, the text is well done and well organized.

This is the second volume of a two volume set on the history of Western Europe. After reading the first book I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. Mr. Merriman has a way of making history come alive and relevent. I found myself making comparisons to America's present challenges to those of Europe in the 19th through 21st century. I highly recommend both volumes to anyone interested in learning where we have been and where we might be headed.

I bought Merriman's "A History of Modern Europe" as an adjunct to my studying Nineteenth European history in the Teaching Company's DVDs on the subject. I am partiuculatly interested in the period between Bismark's unification of Germany and the beginnings of WW1. Altho the trigger on WW1 was pulled in the assination of Austrian Archduke Fendinand, the national entanglements over the years preceeding this set the stage for a world wide conflict - this text book surveys this period very well. I think Bismarks alliances are complex, and any text that can untangle these are a welcome source of information. If you are to have only one survey book on Modern European History this is the one.

This book is heavily relied upon as one of many resources for IR-History courses at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Well-written, comprehensive, a pleasure to read - plus it's got some interesting photos/portraits/maps, etc., that help to further elucidate the subject matter.

This was a good attempt at trying to write a text book on such a large span of time. However, in the process some topics were glazed over. An example of this would be Merriman's treatment of the first World War where the battles of Dieppe and Vimy Ridge were not mentioned. There was also a definite American slant in the treatment of the same topic. For example, the role of Canada in the war was ignored. Instead the role of the United States in the war was highlighted.