Synopses & Reviews
A concise introduction to European history between 1914 and 1945, this series of succinct interpretations written by leading scholars offers a new introduction to the period. Covering historical developments in all areas within Europe's natural borders--from the Atlantic to the Arctic Ocean, from the Bosporus to the Urals and the Mediterranean, the book moves beyond the traditional view that the history of this period can only be understood in terms of catastrophe. Instead it argues for a more balanced perspective, suggesting that both "darker" and "lighter" elements in Europe's history were capable of evolving simultaneously.
Without neglecting the more familiar stories of war, genocide, and economic depression, each chapter demonstrates that political stability and regime collapse, social progress and mass poverty, the crisis of European civilization and remarkable cultural achievements, existed alongside each other. With the military struggles and intense political conflicts also came innovations in social welfare, the introduction of far-reaching labor laws, the breakthrough of parliamentary democracy and republicanism, and the enduring personal networks that resulted from international migration.
Emphasizing the histories of the smaller states--and the multifaceted nature of the period--Twisted Paths illuminates the diversity of Europe's experiences in the first half of the twentieth century.
Table of Contents
Introduction, Robert Gerwarth
Scandinavia, Mary Hilson
Great Britain, Ross McKibbin
The Two Irelands, Alvin Jackson
Belgium and the Netherlands, Martin Conway and Peter Romijn
France, Joan Tumblety
Iberia, Frances Lannon
Italy, R. J. B. Bosworth
Germany, Stefan Berger
The Successor States, R. J. W. Evans
The Balkans, Richard J. Crampton
Finland and the Baltic States, Kristina Spohr Readman
Russia, Hubertus F. Jahn
Europe and the League of Nations, Patricia Clavin
Europe and the Wider World, Nicholas Doumanis
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