20th C european history

anyone know of a really good ( but not too impossible to read!) book on 20th Century European history? was thinking of maybe mazower's 'dark continent' or hobsbawm's 'age of extremes'... anyone read either? or can recommend a good one?

Reply 1

Gwai

Those are both great books, but Mazower's concentrates on the clash of ideologies and isn't a 'general' history as such. 'The Age of Extremes' I liked as well but personally I find Hobsbawm's prose quite heavy going, it's not a light read. How about 'Europe Since 1870' by James Joll or the last few chapters of Norman Davies' 'Europe: A History'?

Reply 2

holdencaulfield

A History of the Twentieth Century by Martin Gilbert. It's a long read but it's pretty easy going, very clear and concise.

Reply 3

Tomber

The Ascendancy of Europe - M.S Anderson

edit: never mind - I just read '20th century' haha, still a good book though

Reply 4

Lottie

Gwai

'The Age of Extremes' I liked as well but personally I find Hobsbawm's prose quite heavy going, it's not a light read.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

I'm reading 'On History' at the moment and it's a struggle at times! I've only just really 'got into it' after pushing on through for the first ten (!) or so chapters. I'm slowly reaching a bit of an understanding with him...