A Short History of the 20th Century

Geoffrey Blainey has applied his narrative talents and his scholarly credentials to trace the history of a tempestuous century. A Short History of the Twentieth Century carries some of the excitement of the times as well as the power of unforeseen events. The theme that dominates much of the book is war and peace-a nervous peace-which gripped the attention of most people who lived through a large part of the century. Mr. Blainey's talent for identifying the telling detail, the crucial event, the key personality makes for masterful storytelling, and his interest ranges wide over the fields of human activity; he is concerned not only with major transformations but also with the everyday experiences of people around the world. A Short History of the Twentieth Century entertains like a novel, educates and informs like the best of teachers. With 10 maps.

Geoffrey Blainey, one of Australia’s most prominent historians, held a chair at Harvard University in the early 1980s and taught for many years at the University of Melbourne. He has also written A Short History of the World. He is the recipient of Australia’s highest honor, Companion in the Order of Australia. He lives near Melbourne.