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truequeenofchaos's review against another edition
1.0
This book is perfect only for those who are whole-heartedly fascinated by European History.
I myself have always been somewhat interested in the history of Europe, but this book was just killing me. It consisted of straight facts, like a textbook from school. Also, the authors of each section were clearly trying to argue what they THOUGHT to have happened. They had no proof. The only one that I even enjoyed reading was about the Battle of the Nile.
My opinion of this book might be a little tainted though, because I was forced to read it and write an annotated bibliography on it for class.
I myself have always been somewhat interested in the history of Europe, but this book was just killing me. It consisted of straight facts, like a textbook from school. Also, the authors of each section were clearly trying to argue what they THOUGHT to have happened. They had no proof. The only one that I even enjoyed reading was about the Battle of the Nile.
My opinion of this book might be a little tainted though, because I was forced to read it and write an annotated bibliography on it for class.
jmeston's review against another edition
3.0
A grab bag, as designed. It was a pleasant book to flip through. The early European history moments were well chosen and I liked most of the essays, just a few that didn't get my attention. This is a series, I may look for the others when in need of some historical snacking.
wealhtheow's review against another edition
2.0
A collection of essays whose only connecting thread is that they all involve Europe in some way. That's it. Some are art history, others detail revolutions. Some are written in a dry academic style, while others read like pop history, and one, Paul Kennedy's "The Battle of the Nile," is written from the perspective of a fictional Egyptian fisherman (and manages to be actually offensive in how artificial, unconvincing, and Orientalist the fiction is). Some essays relate controversies or mysteries, while others just recount events and periodically insert "I wish I'd been there to see that."
I wish this book had more of a point. They should have curated this collection so that it focused on "key turning points in the drama of European history," as stated on the back, OR focused it on points of history that are still mysterious. As it stands, it's a bunch of utterly random bits of history, most of which is related poorly.
I wish this book had more of a point. They should have curated this collection so that it focused on "key turning points in the drama of European history," as stated on the back, OR focused it on points of history that are still mysterious. As it stands, it's a bunch of utterly random bits of history, most of which is related poorly.
wolvereader's review
4.0
Twenty essays by eminent historians (and [a:Freeman Dyson|5569343|Freeman Dyson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1366330437p2/5569343.jpg]) covering pivotal and often unknown moments in history. The essays range from the death of Alexander the Great through to the German surrender in WWII, and range through topics from wars and generals to Shakespeare, Manet, and Picasso to Galileo and Newton. My favorite might be the essay on how Frederick the Great encouraged the cultivation of potatoes, but I learned something new in all of them.
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