Synopses & Reviews
In 1935, with a doctorate in art history and no prospect of a job, the 26-year-old Ernst Gombrich was invited by a publishing acquaintance to attempt a history of the world for younger readers. Amazingly, he completed the task in an intense six weeks, and Eine kurze Weltgeschichte für junge Leser was published in Vienna to immediate success, and is now available in seventeen languages across the world. Toward the end of his long life, Gombrich embarked upon a revision and, at last, an English translation. A Little History of the World presents his lively and involving history to English-language readers for the first time. Superbly designed and freshly illustrated, this is a book to be savored and collected. In forty concise chapters, Gombrich tells the story of man from the stone age to the atomic bomb. In between emerges a colorful picture of wars and conquests, grand works of art, and the spread and limitations of science. This is a text dominated not by dates and facts, but by the sweep of mankind’s experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity’s achievements and an acute witness to its frailties. The product of a generous and humane sensibility, this timeless account makes intelligible the full span of human history.
Review
and#8220;The true fairy tale of the evolution of mankind.and#8221;
and#8212;Die ZeitReview
"Imagine the full story of human habitation on our planet being told in such flowing prose that you want to read it out loud. If you can't imagine that, read
A Little History of the World and experience it!"and#8212;Patricia S. Schroeder, Presidentandnbsp;and CEO of the Association of American Publishers and Former U.S. Representative from Colorado
Review
"A brilliant piece of narrative, splendidly organised, told with an energy and confidence that are enormously attractive, and suffused with all the humanity and generosity of spirit that Gombrich's thousands of admirers came to cherish during his long and richly productive life. It's a wonderful surprise: irresistible, in fact."-Philip Pullman "Brilliant, irresistible: a wonderful surprise."-Philip Pullman(Philip Pullman)
Review
"Gombrich accomplishes what many university-level Western Civilization classes cannotand#8212;a riveting account of events that shaped the world from the Stone Age to the 1930s, illustrating the relevance of history to current events. Teachers and schools should add this to their reading lists."and#8212;Claire Martin,
The Denver Postandnbsp;
Review
“This ‘little history has aged amazingly well.”
Die Zeit
Review
"A beautifully concise volume [that] will remind readers of any age that the past 5,000 years have been one big slugfest between darkness and enlightenment, unreason and reason."and#8212;Mary Ann Gwinn, Seattle Times
Review
“The true fairy tale of the evolution of mankind.”
Die Zeit -- Patricia S. Schroeder - 7.
Review
"Witty, clear-eyed and humane, tells the sweeping story of humankind in 40 short and fascinating chapters . . ."and#8212; Susie Wilde, The News and Observer
Review
"Magical, transporting. . . . A children's history that adults will want to sneak off with and read on the sly."
—VeryShortList.com
Mary Ann Gwinn - Seattle Times
Review
and#8220;This and#8216;little historyand#8217; has aged amazingly well.and#8221;
andnbsp;
Synopsis
The international bestseller available in English for the first time: E. H. Gombrich's world history for the curious of all ages... E. H. Gombrich's bestselling history of the world for young readers tells the story of mankind from the Stone Age to the atomic bomb, focusing not on small detail but on the sweep of human experience, the extent of human achievement, and the depth of its frailty. The product of a generous and humane sensibility, this timeless account makes intelligible the full span of human history. In forty concise chapters, Gombrich tells the story of man from the stone age to the atomic bomb. In between emerges a colorful picture of wars and conquests, grand works of art, and the spread and limitations of science. This is a text dominated not by dates and facts, but by the sweep of mankind's experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity's achievements and an acute witness to its frailties.
Synopsis
The international bestseller: E. H. Gombrich's sweeping history of the world, for the curious of all ages "All stories begin with 'Once upon a time.' And that's just what this story is all about: what happened, once upon a time." So begins A Little History of the World, an engaging and lively book written for readers both young and old. Rather than focusing on dry facts and dates, E. H. Gombrich vividly brings the full span of human experience on Earth to life, from the stone age to the atomic age. He paints a colorful picture of wars and conquests; of grand works of art; of the advances and limitations of science; of remarkable people and remarkable events, from Confucius to Catherine the Great to Winston Churchill, and from the invention of art to the destruction of the Berlin Wall.
For adults seeking a single-volume overview of world history, for students in search of a quick refresher course, or for families to read and learn from together, Gombrich's Little History enchants and educates.
Synopsis
A Remembrance from Leonie Gombrich:
My grandfather Ernst Gombrich did not usually write for children. Nor did he study history at university: art history was his subject. He was therefore delighted and astonished in almost equal degree that his very first book, Eine kurze Weltgeschichte fur junge Leser, should have endured so long and found so many friends all over the world.
He wrote it as a young man and in a considerable rush, and later considered that both these factors contributed to its long lived appeal. For this little book would never have been written at all were it not for the unusual circumstances that presented themselves in Vienna in 1935.
When the book came out, in 1936, it was very well received, reviewers assuming that my grandfather must be an experienced teacher. Though publication was stopped by the Nazisbecause they considered the outlook too pacifist it was reissued thirty years later. My grandfather added a new final chapter and was once again delighted by the books success, and the many translations that have followed.
Synopsis
The international bestseller available in English for the first time: E. H. Gombrichand#8217;s world history for the curious of all ages...
Synopsis
E. H. Gombrichandrsquo;s bestselling history of the world for young readers tells the story of mankind from the Stone Age to the atomic bomb, focusing not on small detail but on the sweep of human experience, the extent of human achievement, and the depth of its frailty. The product of a generous and humane sensibility, this timeless account makes intelligible the full span of human history. In forty concise chapters, Gombrich tells the story of man from the stone age to the atomic bomb. In between emerges a colorful picture of wars and conquests, grand works of art, and the spread and limitations of science. This is a text dominated not by dates and facts, but by the sweep of mankindandrsquo;s experience across the centuries, a guide to humanityandrsquo;s achievements and an acute witness to its frailties.
About the Author
Among E. H. GOMBRICHand#8217;s many writings are the international bestsellers The Story of Art and Art and Illusion. He was director of the Warburg Institute of the University of London from 1959 to 1976.