Ireland Books

It is good that Roberts has multipule publishers for both of these works, as they are works that should remain in print for a very long time. I always hate it when I find good stuff that is out of print.

Now, about "A History of Europe". Good work. It focuses more on history after 1800 though. But then, this is what is important to most modern readers. We read to find out some answer to the question of who we are. So, naturally, a general history is going to focus more on later periods that tell us more about who are currently are.

It does cover all the topics of interest. Prehistoric Europe, thru the Classical period of Greece and Rome, up thru the middle ages and into modern times.

Great book to own and read and reread all the time.

Roberts exhibits a remarkable gift for conciseness and generously shares what seems to be vast insight on the history of Europe. Other histories would be very detailed but Roberts is able to capture the same subtleties with fewer (brilliantly chosen) words and ideas. He quotes some rather obscure but fascinating sources; you feel as if you are in the company of an eminent old historian who has been studying this subject all his life, has read just about everything there is to read on the subject, possesses no illusions or pretentions (he's too old for B.S.), and picks out those few gems of his knowledge that almost no one else knows just to share with you. Roberts really tries to tell it like it is (or was) without mincing words.

The author also goes to a great deal of effort to convey the feel of different periods so that the reader may better understand how historical events were perceived at the time and how they led to subsequent events. True history is not a mere chronicle of events but also the interpretation of those events, then and now. Roberts is keenly aware of this.

I have read both Roberts' book and Norman Davies' "Europe: A History"; both are superb but in different ways. Davies' book is larger and more detailed, and seems to prefer to let the large volume of facts and quoted sources speak for themselves. Roberts seems to prefer a greater emphasis on interpretation and broad insight, something that only a historian of his stature could respectably do. Both are perfectly acceptable methods of writing history. If you want a good reference, pick Davies' book, but for additional explanation of why Europe is the way it is, Roberts' book is highly recommended.

Roberts is clearly a brilliant historian. He works in much the same manner as a master painter. His History of Europe opens with a near empty canvas; he gives us a strong sense of Europe before the first human foot fell upon it. This opening conveys more than simple geographical and geological facts; it conveys a sense of how the terrain and climate would ultimately sustain life. Through this device, the reader can derive a feeling of premonition, a sense of history yet to come.

What follows is extraordinary. Roberts' coverage of the subject becomes ever more focused, from the very amorphous dawn of European civilization to highlights of individual societies. These are first examined separately and then in parallel, giving the reader a constant and realistically uneven emergence of a modern Europe.

In today's world, where truly exceptional literature and research are rare, Roberts' work is a welcome arrival. It can only be compared to historical works of antiquity or, in more modern eras, the works of Will and Ariel Durant. This is evident in the way that Roberts interweaves the daily life of the average European with major, historical events. In this way, he conveys a vivid picture of Europe and its peoples.

I cannot recommend this book more. Roberts has earned himself a place amongst the likes of Suetonius, Alexis De Tocqueville, and the Durants. His style is both wide in scope and captivating.

If you read most history books, you'll notice very little is mentioned about what the women were doing at that particular point in time. What was it like to be a noblewoman and have your husband go off to war? What was the daily activity for a peasant's wife? What was labor and childbirth like for women of those times? Was there a Renaissance for women? Did the spread of Christianity hurt or help women?

M's Anderson and M's Zinsser answer these questions and so much more in this well researched book. They detail the archaeological evidence that supports their writing, as well as various written works that provide a glimpse into women's lives hundreds of years ago. There are various pictures of artifacts, as well as artwork depicting women through out the years.

There are many things I never thought about in regards to being a woman in the past. The fact that female children, for example, were breastfed for only a year while their brothers nursed for two years (thereby affording more protection against diseases) seems especially disheartening. The information about the noblewoman's life seems particularly sad in this day and age. Basically a daughter was used as property by her parents who wanted her to "marry well" - perhaps to form an alliance with a more powerful noble's family or to gain land. Some parents even went as far to beat their daughters into their marriages. Their life didn't become easier once they got married. The noblewoman would have to arrange for moving to different estates, supervise the staff and the laborers, figure out the taxes and the annual income among other tasks.Not exactly how it's portrayed in movies or books, is it?

This is a book to read and ponder. All the aspects of a woman's life is covered in this compelling book - childbirth, contraception, religious practices are just some of the subjects this well organized book describes. M's Anderson and M's Zinsser makes the past come alive with their writing style. I recommend this book highly for those who want to learn more about the often overlooked history of women.

When I bought this book it was not out of an interest in the Balkans. I bought Homeland Calling due to an interest in the role that exiles and diasporas play in today's conflicts and in today's globalised world, particularly relating to the research I am conducting into the conflicts in Africa and the role of diasporas in these conflict. Not only has Hockenos shed some considerable light on the mechanisms of the diaspora machine, but he has also cured an allergy for anything Balkan.

I can highly recommend this book to those interested in diasporas, in the Balkans, in the dynamics of support networks for today's conflicts, or simply as a really good read.

The book is perfect for class projects in geography,
world history and world culture. If you ever travel to Ireland,
this book is an important guide.