I Wish I'd Been There (R): Book Two: European History [Paperback]

Byron Hollinshead (Editor), Theodore K. Rabb (Editor)

Book Description

Series: I Wish I'd Been There | Publication Date: June 2, 2009

“What is the scene or incident in European history that you would like to have witnessed-and why?”

In this companion to I Wish I'd Been There: Twenty Historians Bring to Life the Dramatic Events that Changed America, some of our finest historical writers now turn their attention to Europe, with lively and detailed accounts of some of the most dramatic events in history. Guided by peerless scholars such as Paul Kennedy, John Keegan, Ross King, Freeman Dyson, and Katherine Duncan-Jones, readers will be transported to the signing of Magna Carta, the Versailles Conference, the German surrender in WWII on Luneburg Heath, and other key turning points in the drama of European history. These essays encompass two millenia and an entire continent, addressing issues of politics, law, religion, peace and war, science and the arts, and social change, all telescoped into finely observed narratives. The result is an historical pageant of characters and episodes that will attract and delight all readers of history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“These essays dazzle with their perspicacity.... History at its most engaging.”
—The Washington Times

“Rabb and Hollinshead have assembled a formidable array of scholars to engage in imaginary time travel.”
—Financial Times

“An absolutely sparkling collection: an ideal present for anyone with historical inclinations.”
—Times Literary Supplement

“This sound, quirky, and savory offering will kindle the imaginations of armchair historians.”
—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Byron Hollinshead is president of American Historical Publications, a producer of books in history for adults and for children. Previously, he was president of American Heritage Publishing Company and Oxford University Press, Inc. He was publisher of MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History and Time Machine: American History for Kids, and edited I Wish I'd Been There, which Anchor published in 2007.

Theodore K. Rabb is a professor of history emeritus at Princeton University. He is the author of The Struggle for Stability in Early Modern Europe and The Last Days of the Renaissance, among other books. Rabb was the principal historical adviser and commentator for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Renaissance and wrote the series's companion book, Renaissance Lives.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; Reprint edition (June 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030727764X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307277640
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good present for a historian, November 17, 2011

By 

Kellie F (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Wish I'd Been There (R): Book Two: European History (Paperback)

I checked this book out of the library and enjoyed it and recently bought it on amazon as a gift for a historian friend of mine.

Parts of this book are extremely interesting and parts weren't as strong.
If you enjoy minutia of history or want someone to sell you about a particular time period, it is informative.
What I liked best was when the writer gave you the background as to why it was such an interesting question to them. One of my favorites was the one on Alexander and on Palestine/Middle East during WWI.

I haven't read the first one about American History so I can't comment on that.