Read For School

This book is a recommended read for anyone with an interest in European history. The author expertly weaves together complex material in a way that makes it accessible and engaging for readers. The book is also up-to-date with recent research and events, providing a current and accurate understanding of Europe's place in the world.

"Ornamentalism" provides a fascinating angle on British imperialism, moving beyond the common race narrative to explore the role that British social class structures played in maintaining power across the empire. It's a thought-provoking read for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of historical power dynamics and the link between domestic social customs and global dominance. David Cannadine's scholarship offers a fresh perspective that promises to challenge and enrich your understanding of empire.

Available in both one-volume and two-volume paperback editions, A History of Modern Europe presents a panoramic survey of modern Europe from the Renaissance to the present day. A seasoned teacher and talented historian, Professor Merriman’s offers a carefully crafted narrative that guides students through a vast amount of complex material, integrating the many aspects of the European experience into a larger, interconnected whole. A full 10% shorter than its predecessor, the Second Edition has tightened organization throughout to make room for recent research and descriptions of the current issues and events that define Europe’s role in the world today.

Why did ordinary Germans vote for Hitler? In this dramatically plotted book, organized around crucial turning points in 1914, 1918, and 1933, Peter Fritzsche explains why the Nazis were so popular and what was behind the political choice made by the German people.Rejecting the view that Germans voted for the Nazis simply because they hated the Jews, or had been humiliated in World War I, or had been ruined by the Great Depression, Fritzsche makes the controversial argument that Nazism was part of a larger process of democratization and political invigoration that began with the outbreak of World War I.The twenty-year period beginning in 1914 was characterized by the steady advance of a broad populist revolution that was animated by war, drew strength from the Revolution of 1918, menaced the Weimar Republic, and finally culminated in the rise of the Nazis. Better than anyone else, the Nazis twisted together ideas from the political Left and Right, crossing nationalism with social reform, anti-Semitism with democracy, fear of the future with hope for a new beginning. This radical rebelliousness destroyed old authoritarian structures as much as it attacked liberal principles.The outcome of this dramatic social revolution was a surprisingly popular regime that drew on public support to realize its horrible racial goals. Within a generation, Germans had grown increasingly self-reliant and sovereign, while intensely nationalistic and chauvinistic. They had recast the nation, but put it on the road to war and genocide.

From the ashes of World War II to the conflict over Iraq, William Hitchcock examines the miraculous transformation of Europe from a deeply fractured land to a continent striving for stability, tolerance, democracy, and prosperity. Exploring the role of Cold War politics in Europe’s peace settlement and the half century that followed, Hitchcock reveals how leaders such as Charles de Gaulle, Willy Brandt, and Margaret Thatcher balanced their nations’ interests against the demands of the reigning superpowers, leading to great strides in economic and political unity. He re-creates Europeans’ struggles with their troubling legacy of racial, ethnic, and national antagonism, and shows that while divisions persist, Europe stands on the threshold of changes that may profoundly shape the future of world affairs.

If you're fascinated by how societies grapple with grief collectively, "Sites Of Memory, Sites Of Mourning" can serve as an illuminating read. Jay Winter delves into the aftermath of the First World War not through a list of events, but by painting a cultural and emotional landscape. This book will give you a nuanced understanding of the threads that wove European culture together during a time of loss and rebuilding. It's poignant for those interested in the interplay between history and collective memory.

If you've been moved by Anne Frank's diary, this play brings her poignant story off the pages and into vivid dramatization. Ideal for those who appreciate historical narratives and are looking for a powerful enactment of resilience and hope in the face of daunting adversity. It's a conduit for both understanding the past and educating through performance.