Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century Borzoi Book: Amazon.co.uk: Mark Mazower: Books

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Age of Extremes : The Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991

by E.J. Hobsbawm

3.4 out of 5 stars (14) �9.09

Hitler's Empire: Nazi Rule in Occupied Europe

by Mark Mazower

4.8 out of 5 stars (10) �7.79

Europe Since 1870: An International History

by James Joll

4.0 out of 5 stars (2) �9.09

The Birth of the Modern World, 1780-1914: Global Connections and Comparisons (Blackwell History of the World)

by C. A. Bayly

5.0 out of 5 stars (2) �18.99

In Defence of History

by Richard J. Evans

4.4 out of 5 stars (9) �7.49

› Explore similar items

Product Description

Review
'Brilliant ... this superb book is a frightening reminder of how fragile democracy has been' --Orlando Figes, Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review
'Original, thought-provoking, iconic' --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.

First Sentence
At a 'Congress of Dethroned Monarchs' held at Geneva in 192-Europe's erstwhile crowned heads tried to win back their old supporters. Read the first page

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

albania(2)

kosovo(2)

macedonia(2)

serbia(2)

ej hobsbawm(1)

balkans(1)

croatia(1)

greece(1)

montenegro(1)

ottoman(1)

turkey(1)

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating and informative look at post-WWI Europe, 21 Jun 2004

By	Kurt A. Johnson (Marseilles, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century (Paperback)

In this fascinating history, author Mark Mazower traces this history of Europe from the end of the First World War, through to when the book was written in 1998. This is not a list of dates and battles, but so much more than that. The author traces the evolution of Europe's thought, and as such culture. It begins with the 1920s' embrace of democracy and the rise of the minorities issue, continues with the 1930s' rejection of democracy, the rise and fall of the extreme Right in the 1940s, the evolution of the two halves of divided Europe, and on to Europe's post-Communist development.

I have read many, many history books; most being the standard list of names and dates, battles and elections. But every once in a while I encounter a fascinating book that goes into depth explaining how things developed and why. This book is definitely one of the latter. I especially enjoyed the inter-war period, which explained so much that was unclear to me; things like the development of the race issue, and the reasons behind the ethnic troubles that rocked so many middle and eastern European countries in that era.

This book gave me a lot of food for thought. If you like a book that makes you think, then I highly recommend that you get this one. It is a fascinating and highly informative look at post World War One Europe.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Europe painted black, 13 Nov 2001

By	S. Matthews "Sean Matthews" (Mainz, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century (Paperback)

This is an excellent book, well worth the time. On the other hand, it is not a good introduction to 20th C. European history, it is too polemical (my copy has a blurb recommending it as survey reading for undergraduates, something which it definitely is not - the ideal reader should already have a good idea of European history before tackling this).

Bad points:

I nearly took a star off (or even two stars off) for the sentence in chapter 8 which attempts to allocate (at least part of) the blame for the Stalinisation of postwar eastern Europe to the west.

He generally seems to go easy on the excesses of communism, and Stalinism in particular: yes, there is plenty of condemnation, but also a slight impression of omelettes and broken eggs.

The discussion of the post-war west degenerates into a rant in places, where the first half of the book is a much more considered and convincing polemic. Something a little less intemperate would have made a more effective point.

It is difficult to say for certain in a book that attempts to cover so much in 400 pages, but I get the impression that Mazower's grasp of economics and economic history is not on par with his social or political history (that omelette again).

The analytic epilogue is weak.

Good points: the (resolutely pessimistic) argument for most of its course is well argued and provoking.

The discussion of the fall of communism, if isolated from the discussion of the West that came before is very good.

The central argument, which ties up with an analysis of the disaster of the collapse of Yugoslavia (where Mazower is on home ground) as the last working out of WWI is elegant and provoking.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A reminder of the contingent nature of democracy in Europe, 11 Dec 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century (Paperback)

This is an excellent short history of Europe in the C20, which reminds us that the current general commitment to democracy in the continent is a relatively recent phenomenon. The book is particuarly strong on the failure of liberal capitalism and "narrow" parliamentary democracy in the inter-war period. I liked the prominence given to regions (Eastern and Central Europe) which, from a British perspective, are often neglected. While I felt the treatment of the boom years of the 50s and 60s was also excellent, my only complaint is that the final passages about the 80s and 90s (collapse of Communism and former Yugoslavia) feel like something of an afterthought and that not enough is done to make connections between these events and the broad themes set out earlier in the book. But vg nevertheless.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 7 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars brillaint and thought provoking
this book does lead you to wanting to know and find out more, including economic theories and practices. and yes, it is on the undergraduate reading list....... Read more

Published on 23 May 2002 by Brigitte Palmer

5.0 out of 5 stars Original, insightful, provacative and easy to read.
Easily the best one-volume history of Europe available: original, insightful, provacative and easy to read.

Published on 1 Oct 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Masterly Mazower
Mazower's book, looking at the 20th Century in Europe, is a great read. Giving fascinating insights into the development of democracy and the threats that have menaced as well as... Read more

Published on 9 Jun 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb introduction to a dying century
Mazower's work is always clear and concise. He reveals the fragility of democracy inside Europe over the last century and he has challenging insights that prompt us to think of... Read more

Published on 16 Aug 1999

› See all 7 customer reviews...

Listmania!

Readable quality history: A list by Sam Hispam "hisspam"
My favourite history books: A list by John James
Essential experiences: A list by HooLooVoo

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Books > History > Europe
Books > History > World History

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

More From Mark Mazower

The Balkans (Universal History)

At the end of the twentieth century people spoke as if the Balkans had... Read more
£7.99 £5.99

We've Got Converse

Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

Treat Someone

With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

	79% buy the item featured on this page: Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century (Borzoi Book) 4.9 out of 5 stars (7)
	11% buy Hitler's Empire: Nazi Rule in Occupied Europe 4.8 out of 5 stars (10) �7.79
	4% buy The Birth of the Modern World, 1780-1914: Global Connections and Comparisons (Blackwell History of the World) 5.0 out of 5 stars (2) �18.99
	3% buy Age of Extremes : The Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991 3.4 out of 5 stars (14) �9.09


Amazon Home

International Sites: United States \| Germany \| France \| Japan \| Canada \| China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon \| Fulfilment by Amazon \| Join Associates \| Join Advantage

Customer Service \| Help \| View Basket \| Your Account

About Amazon.co.uk \| Careers at Amazon

Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century (Borzoi Book) (Hardcover)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Listmania!

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

More From Mark Mazower

We've Got Converse

Treat Someone

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History