Description

WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY TIMOTHY GARTON-ASH

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

‘[Judt] 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’ Norman Davies, Guardian

‘Brilliant… Judt has written the standard reference work on European post-war history. It will provoke fruitful debate, but I find it hard to imagine that it will ever be surpassed.’
Misha Glenny, Irish Times

Publisher Review

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 * Spectator * Truly 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 A 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 It is most unlikely that Judt's achievement will be superseded soon * Guardian *