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Paul Johnson

The Birth of the Modern: World Society 1815-1830 Paperback – April 24, 1992

by Paul Johnson (Author)

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From the prizewinning author of Modern Times comes an extraordinary chronicle of the period that laid the foundations of the modern world.

Print length

1120 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Harper Perennial
Publication date

April 24, 1992
Dimensions

6 x 2 x 8.75 inches
ISBN-10

0060922826
ISBN-13

978-0060922825
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This marvelously readable work from the author of Modern Times , a BOMC main selection in cloth, chronicles the formation of the modern world, illuminating the epoch of Andrew Jackson, Wordsworth, Goya and Beethoven.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A colossal effort of energy and imagination." -- -- Hugh Thomas

"We meet an enormous gallery of brilliant, eccentric and (especially thepoets) licentious characters.... The author's sheer enthusiasm Emakes]the tiniest fragments of recorded history burst with light and color." -- --Jeffrey Scheuer, Los Angeles Times Book Review

"A colossal effort of energy and imagination." -- Hugh Thomas

"A considerable achievement . . . immensely readable . . . . Readers will learn a lot from The Birth of the Modern and have a good time while they're at it." -- Tony Judt, Newsday

"Amazing . . . crowded with wonderful portraiture, heroic feats of intellect and imagination...reads at times like one of the novels it describes so brilliantly." -- Hilton Kramer, Wall Street Journal

"Fascinating...a savory social history, spiced with lively gossip . . . it is never dull. In many ways a tour de force." -- Eugen Weber, New York Times Book Review

"We meet an enormous gallery of brilliant, eccentric and (especially the poets) licentious characters . . . the author's sheer enthusiasm [makes] thetiniest fragments of recorded history burst with light and color." -- Jeffrey Scheuer, Los Angeles Times Book Review

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial; First PB Edition, First Printing (April 24, 1992)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1120 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060922826
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060922825
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 2 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #768,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18,770 in World History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
67 ratings

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Paul Johnson

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Beginning with Modern Times (1985), Paul Johnson's books are acknowledged masterpieces of historical analysis. He is a regular columnist for Forbes and The Spectator, and his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

67 global ratings

5 star		87%
4 star		6%
3 star		5%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Amazon Customer

Beautiful condition, expertly-wrapped and packaged, fast and free shipping.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 30, 2022

Verified Purchase

What else can I add? No complaints whatsoever. I shall patronize this business again! I shall, I shall, Sam-I-Am! And I shall patronize it in the morning, and I shall patronize it in the afternoon, and I shall patronize it in a box and with a fox and...

(haven't read the book yet, but there's no way the content will be anything less than prittaaay damn good!)

Helpful

Mary Snare

A very worthwhile study

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 25, 2013

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I am not currently reading this book since it is in Boston and I am in Seattle; and I travel back and forth. However, I see this book as equivalent to a college course in history, as the author explains in depth each aspect he discusses, setting the stage for the developments that move the world closer to our modern times. The period after Napoleon's rule of about 20 years, was like an explosion of forward movement. The author examines this unusual thrust towards modern times. I am not giving it 5 stars, because of the fact that I can only assimilate so much of the tremendous volume of information at one sitting. So it is slow going for me sometimes. The other reason is that the author's use of wording when it is a negative about the United States is not exactly the same as his wording when it is a negative about Britain, so although he may be absolutely correct factually, I suspect a bit of subjective thinking along those lines, and being an American, I see it and have to overlook it. I almost put the book down because of it, but then thought maybe I am equally subjective and I would rather be informed. I can't imagine finding a better book to inform myself of this very important part of our history.

8 people found this helpful

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Anaximander

Well worth the slog

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 18, 2018

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It has taken me more than a year to make my way through this 1,000 page tome. I'm glad I persevered. Johnson's biases against the "left," trade unionists, and the "lower orders" in general peek through from time to time, but this is still a major achievement. The depth and breadth of his scholarship is simply astonishing. The basic thesis is that everything we think of as constituting the "modern" world was laid down between 1815 and 1830, and he makes a damn good case. England is the focus, but he reaches out across Europe, the United States, Russia, and the Far East to bolster his thesis. Each chapter can set the inquisitive reader off on a years-long reading spree; I found it best to read with Wikipedia within easy reach. There are minor editorial glitches throughout, but I'm almost embarrassed to mention that.

14 people found this helpful

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Richard K. Mason

I Enjoyed It So Much I Read It Twice

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 1, 2020

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I am a great admirer of Paul Johnson's books (and I know I am not alone), and this book is no exception. I enjoyed it so much I have read it twice. He brings the post-Napoleonic era to life in fascinating detail. His well-illustrated theme is that these years in the early 1800's planted the seeds for our modern life. He reviews politics, culture, literature, music, the arts, inventions, etc., etc., all in his extremely readable and interesting way. It is a long book, full of luscious detail, a delightful read.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jorge Efraín Dardon

The modern and their fathers.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 7, 2014

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The book is good and the method of exposition has logic and sense. It's perfectly normal the book gave so much time to England, that had a paramount role in creating to modernity.

The book it's also good in show the most important facts of the time, such as the youth of many important geniuses of time and the role of intergeneretional fight in the surge of democracy after 1830.

The main weakness of book is its determinism. Processes like Latin American unstability, Russian totalitarianism, colonialism and the future "English malaise" seemed to me preordained by 1830, ignoring the advertence of the author himself about the possibility of different outcomes.

Anyway, it's a book that makes history alive and interesting.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

FKS

Another Paul Johnson gem

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 8, 2013

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Johnson ends this history in 1830 and Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Locksley Hall" was written in 1835 I which in a few stanzas he foresees airpower, radio and perhaps Esperanza. The impact of the originality and pace of inventions and leaps in technology must have made an impression on every sentient citizen of the nations of Western Europe, England and North America. I have made it a practice of giving this book to the smart and curious among my friends, close relatives and grandchildren.

3 people found this helpful

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K. Scott

I thoroughly enjoyed this and learned so much from it

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 16, 2014

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I thoroughly enjoyed this and learned so much from it. Reads like a novel. Many good excerpts from the journals of historical figures, details woven together to present many big ideas. Each section builds on the last. This is a book to own and return to, regardless of your own particular interest area. Students of American, and Russian, Latin American, Asian history, as well as of course European and UK history, will find much of interest here.

One person found this helpful

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Sally Emerich

" FACTOIDILICIOUS "

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 10, 2012

Verified Purchase

I finally bought this book; kept having to renew at the library, because I only read it in 5-10 page bits. It is extremely interesting...absolutely amazed at the complexity of the world at this time...I thought that our times were careening! Guess that the human condition is just always FRAUGHT! If it's not ice ages, massive plagues, or genocide; it's something else...!

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Laurence Richardson

Interesting and Unorthodox History

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 1, 2016

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This was a refreshing and detailed emphasis on the years 1815 to 1830 as key years when so many of the features of our modern age were developing.there are details here that do not sem tofeature much in other histories - and which even seem unfashionable -e.g.the role of the royal navy in suppressing the slave trade and the role taken by the British government in persuading other nations to abandon the slave trade. So much of this pressure was because of the tremendous campaign by evangelical Christians. It is a vast survey and is exhaustive without being exhausting.

michele

Modern Society birth

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 31, 2018

Verified Purchase

Fine historical interpretation of how we got to where we are. Invigorating and original views from Johnson, as usual.

MIke Loftus

worth my third "re read"

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 2, 2014

Verified Purchase

Nothing unique is my respect of Paul Johnson as a historian. He earned many accolades in his life. But I am always surprised by how much I learn each time I read Birth of the Modern.

We always make the mistake of thinking our times are different. This book reminds us the themes that drive modern life developed over time...and Johnson shows us how.

I think Johnson's Napoleon, Birth of the Modern, and Modern Times should almost be read in sequence, helping readers form perspective on how we got to our current society and culture

colingaj

Very engaging and readable for a history novice like myself

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 13, 2014

Verified Purchase

Very engaging and readable for a history novice like myself; not yet done, but so far it is continuing to hold my interest. I have the kindle version so doing online cross-references for unfamiliar words and other unknowns is a breeze. Overall a highly enjoyable experience.

Allan Carin

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 4, 2014

Verified Purchase

One of the best historical writers of our time.

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The Birth of the Modern: World Society 1815-1830 Paperback – April 24, 1992

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