The Oxford Illustrated History of Modern Europe

Written by an international team of leading scholars, The Oxford History of Modern Europe traces Europe’s turbulent history, from the beginnings of the Revolution in France to the dawn of two World Wars, to the breakup of the Soviet Union, to today’s kaleidoscope of nation-states. The achievements and failures of key figures from many arenas–politics, technology, warfare, religion, and the arts among them–are drawn vividly, and social, cultural, and economic insights are included alongside the record of geopolitical strife. We read of the personality cult as exemplified by the Soviet portraits glorifying Lenin; the importance of the nylon stocking in the post-World War II economic boom; the influence of religion as five new nations (Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania) emerged between 1871 and 1914–an influence that continues to be both vigorous and deadly; and the confrontation between traditional and modern cultures captured as the railway age began in Russia. Beautifully illustrated with over 200 pictures in color and black and white, this insightful book offers an unparalleled, informed perspective on the history of an ever-changing continent.