Author:Tony Judt
FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER AWARD
A magisterial and acclaimed history of post-war Europe, from Germany to Poland, from Western Europe to Eastern Europe, selected as one of New York Times Ten Best Books of the Year
Europe in 1945 was drained. Much of the continent was devastated by war, mass slaughter, bombing and chaos. Large areas of Eastern Europe were falling under Soviet control, exchanging one despotism for another. Today, the Soviet Union is no more and the democracies of the European Union reach as far as the borders of Russia itself. Postwar tells the rich and complex story of how we got from there to here, demystifying Europe's recent history and identity, of what the continent is and has been.
‘It is hard to imagine how a better - and more readable - history of the emergence of today's Europe from the ashes of 1945 could ever be written…All in all, a real masterpiece’ Ian Kershaw, author of Hitler
Most impressive... Postwar, Tony Judt's magnificent history of Europe after The Second World War, covers vast tracts of ground with extraordinary skill, weaving together the stories of West and East in a single, compelling narrative
—— Evening Standard, 'Books of the Year'Masterly and exhilarating... Judt has a fine eye for telling detail... This is a splendid book to which no review can do proper justice
—— Geoffrey Wheatcroft , SpectatorTruly superb - a magnificent achievement. It is hard to imagine how a better - and more readable - history of the emergence of today's Europe from the ashes of 1945 could ever be written; I can't think of another work on the latter half of the 20th century that comes close to matching it... All in all, a real masterpiece
—— Ian Kershaw, author of HitlerA superb work of synthesis, analysis and reflection
—— Times Literary Supplement, 'Books of the Year'With Postwar... Judt moves up into the ranks of the grand simplificateurs. He dares to expound the sum total of Europe since 1945 in a seamless narrative... This is history-writing with a human face, as well as with brainpower... It is most unlikely that Judt's achievement will be superseded soon
—— GuardianJudt's brilliant study of Europe after the Second World War is unlikely to be surpassed... Tony Judt has written the standard reference work on European post-war history
—— Irish TimesA masterly survey of how today's Europe rose from the ashes and exhaustion of 1945
—— New Statesman, 'Books of the Year'Solid and lasting...thoroughly resourced and researched
—— Anthony Howard , Sunday TelegraphA Royal Affair is an entertaining tale ...Tillyard's account of the brothers is heroic...[she] tells this astonishing tale with bravura
—— John de Falbe , Daily TelegraphShe has returned to what she knows-and does-best, teasing out the bonds of love, hate and pretend indifference that bind siblings, no matter what their historical pedigree, into a cat's cradle of consequence
—— EconomistThe story is brilliantly told. In its descriptive flourishes it is sometimes fearlessly novelistic, yet it travels long distances for scholarly scruples
—— John Mullan , Times Literary Supplement