Reviews (4)

Encore!
The Culture of Time and Space was a pioneering book when it first came out and it is wonderful to see how elegantly it has aged.These connections among the sciences and the arts, and among the arts themselves, were mostly new when Kern first published thisessay, and are still too rarely made, even those between literature and painting that we find discreetly suggested by the cover of almost every serious book these days.Best of all, those relationships really exist.The connection between Picasso's cubist representation of space (beginning in 1907) and Einstein's four-dimensional representation of space-time (which depends on the Relativity paper of 1905 and an insight about gravity Einstein had in 1907) is entirely real.This is history, not an "alternative reading," and it is intellectual/cultural history at its best.For me it was the inspiration to finish writing a book of my own, and it's a pleasure to welcome it back to print.

A masterwork of the supeficial
Stephen Kern read a lot, writing his book. His study is a conglomerate of the most important authors, sociologists and philosophers focusing on the shift of time and space concepts in modern Europe. The broadness of his knowledge is the lack of his book, because it is nothing else than a masterwork of the superficial. Combine a little bit of time-philosophy in the novels of Proust, a little bit of brainstorming (Molly Bloom) in Joyce, combined with Einstein, James, Husserl (!), Bergson, Ibsen, etc. and you have a good pseudo-cultural-philosophic consomm�. The book is mixture of articles you find in encyclopedias. I am very disappointed, especially with Harvard University Press.
An Exciting Approach to the Study of Cultural History
Stephen Kern conducts an innovative examination of the way in which new perceptions of time and space influenced ideas, philosophies, art forms, behavior, politics, and foreign relations.Kern is able to connect such seemingly unrelated topics as the sinking of the RMS Titanic and Friedrich Nietzche's evaluation of the present (an approach he calls "conceptual distance") to create a better understanding of the changing attitudes concerning time and space at the turn of the twentieth century.As Kern points out, the study of such an array of diverse cultural elements in terms of temporal and spatial experiences is essential because time and space are universal.All peoples experience time and space.Ultimately, he explains how the changing notions of time and space culminated in the diplomatic breakdown which led to the First World War.Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Civilization, Modern    3. General    4. History Of Civilization And Culture (General)    5. History: American    6. Sociology    7. Space and time    8. Technology and civilization    9. Western Europe - General    10. 20th century    11. Europe    12. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    13. History / General    14. Perception    15. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Economic History    4. Government And Social Welfare    5. Great Britain    6. History    7. History: World    8. Poor    9. Poor laws    10. Poverty    11. Western Europe - General    12. England    13. History / Great Britain    14. Poor laws--Great Britain--History    15. Social history    16. Social issues    17. c 1500 to c 1600    18. c 1600 to c 1700    19. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (3)

Higonnet at his best
Higonnet doesn't put out many books, rather he reads a many more than any of his contemporaries, and puts out a few selective gems of academic work.
Intriguing new perspective
If you're looking for a general history of Paris, this book is not for you.On the other hand, if you already have a fair knowledge of Parisian history and culture, and if you are intrigued by the intersections of reality and imagination, don't miss it.Anyone who has ever lived in a big city, especially one with history, knows that the essence of the city is more than simply the sum of its buildings and inhabitants.This is particularly clear in the case of Paris - as a city, it is almost more myth than reality.Everyone is familiar, to some extent, with the images and ideas associated with Paris.Higonnet's book can show you how and when these myths originated.The amount of casual erudition in the book can be overwhelming at times, but a dedicated reader will find it rewarding.In addition, Higonnet's ever-elegant and quietly ironic style, combined with what is clearly a deep feeling for Paris, will make you want to keep on reading even when the sheer quantity of information is intimidating.

How can you make Paris dull? Here's how...
I was tricked into buying this book. It is being marketed as a general history of Paris for the traveler or Francophile. Unfortunately, it reads much more like someone's masters thesis. As such, it brings with it all the usual problems of academic writing. Here is a sample sentence:Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Western Europe - General    6. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    7. France    8. History / France    9. Social history   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Western Europe - General    6. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    7. Great Britain--Politics and government--1485-1603    8. History / Great Britain    9. United Kingdom, Great Britain    10. c 1700 to c 1800    11. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. 1519-1740    2. 1740-1789    3. Austria    4. Europe - Austria & Hungary    5. Europe - General    6. Habsburg, House of    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Nationalism    11. Western Europe - General    12. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    13. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    14. Germany    15. Rank & titles    16. c 1500 to c 1600    17. c 1600 to c 1700    18. c 1700 to c 1800    19. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

Chapeau!
Stanley Payne is one of the hispanists who knows what he speaks about. Many others, even Spaniards, select the facts conveying to a previous conclusion. Payne is not like that.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Ancient - General    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Representative government and representation    8. Republic, 1931-1939    9. Revolutionary    10. Spain    11. Western Europe - General    12. Civil war    13. European history: from c 1900 -    14. History / Europe / Western   

Subjects:  1. Alps    2. Europe - General    3. Europe - Western    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Human geography    8. Natural history    9. Social life and customs    10. Western Europe - General    11. History, World | European | Other European Nations    12. Travel / Europe / Western   

Subjects:  1. Church history    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Medieval    6. Middle Ages, 600-1500    7. Mysticism    8. Religious life    9. Spirituality - Women's    10. Western Europe - General    11. Women    12. Women's Studies - History    13. Blasphemy, heresy, apostasy    14. European History    15. Gender Studies    16. History / Europe / Western    17. Religion    18. Social history    19. Western Continental Europe    20. Women's studies    21. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. History    3. History: World    4. Medieval    5. Western Europe - General    6. History / Europe / General   

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. Europe - France    3. France    4. Historiography    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Memory    8. National characteristics, French    9. Nationalism    10. Philosophy    11. Political Philosophy    12. Symbolism    13. Western Europe - General    14. Europe    15. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    16. History / Europe / General    17. Social Sciences   

Reviews (3)

A Catalogue of Folk Magic
The world is a strange and terrifying place in which arbitrary events often determine our happiness and even survival.While modern medicine, adequate food supplies and stable governments have done much to decrease random pain and suffering in this era, it was not always so.This book details medieval man and woman's attempts to control the forces of nature that acted on and in their everyday lives.
great read
I fascinating study of premodern European folk traditions.The author avoids the all to common tendancy to fill his descriptions of folk practices with modern polemics.The author has no political ax to grind, other than reintroducing us to our ancestors. One comes away with a sense of how far we have come in the modern world, and also a sense of sadness at how much we have given up.

Entertaining, Everlasting Magic!
It is a complicated and unpredictable universe out there.Chance and chaos seem to rule much of everything, and even when we think we have control, we often fool ourselves into thinking we really have more than we do, or that we have any at all.The feeling of being in control, however illusory, is what has been harnessed by magical beliefs that have been found in all societies.In _The Magical Universe: Everyday Ritual and Magic in Pre-Modern Europe_ (Hambledon and London), Stephen Wilson, a British historian, has compiled a monumental collection of magical beliefs and practices that shows how they affected almost all aspects of society, including doctrinal religion.Every page is filled with odd practices that some community has at some time thought would decrease the chaos in the world.Read more

Subjects:  1. Customs & Traditions    2. Europe - General    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Magick Studies    8. Manners And Customs    9. Medieval    10. Occult Sciences    11. Western Europe - General    12. Cultural studies    13. Europe    14. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    15. History / Medieval    16. Magic & alchemy    17. Social history    18. World history: c 500 to C 1500    19. c 1000 CE to c 1500    20. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Reviews (2)

Great read, great drink
It isn't often a book will change your life. This one semi sort of did. Leastwise, it changed my drinking. Mid-way into my 60s, I've set aside single malt scotch and switched to cognac. The book is just as satisfying, as much a history of France and it is cognac. Then, of course, one is pretty much the other. If you aren't a fan of cognac, you may soon be. Happy reading, happy drinking!

Cognac -- book to savor
Kyle Jarrard has voiced the subtlety, complexity and passion of a grande champagne wafting across the tongue.His gift for storytelling carried me from the dawn of time, through the emergence of the "eau de vie," to a promising future.The journey is fraught with peaks and valleys, perils and rewards, villains and heros.His infectious reverence for the people, region and products of Cognac blends poetry and journalism in a book that is parts history, personality profile, science text, gourmet cookbook and market analysis. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Brandy    3. Cooking / Wine    4. History    5. History: World    6. Western Europe - General    7. History / Europe / Western    8. History of specific subjects    9. Spirits & cocktails    10. Western Continental Europe   

Reviews (3)

'Possibly, Too Clever...'
This is an outstanding volume and it belongs on the shelf of every student of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic period, whether or not your interest is in the diplomats and diplomacy of the period.
The Hero of His Own Life
Out of print in English since the 1970s, Ravenhall Books has published a welcomed new edition of Metternich's Autobiography in an inexpensive paperback edition.Based on three separate biographical extracts from Metternich's Nachgelassenen and originally edited by Metternich's son, Metternich's memoirs were not truly memoirs, but, like many so-called "memoirs" of the era, a collection of letters, diaries and other documents. Prince Richard Metternich, in presenting the Memoirs, wrote, somewhat hopefully perhaps, "now that more than a generation has passed over his quiet tomb, the image of the resolute defender of conservative principles appears still more imposing, and his own words will enable men to realize the power and charm of his character.Even his enemies will be touched, and will regard with respect the great statesman as he once again passes before them." Metternich observed somewhat disingenuously that "I have made history, and therefore have not found the time to write it."But Metternich also bragged, "What gratifies me is to notice that the productions of my pen are always those which are most to the taste of the public." Metternich's son edited his father's papers with an eye to history. The memoirs were published virtually simultaneously in German French and English (the English translation was done by Robina Napier, wife of a Norfolk vicar, the son of the first editor of the Edinburgh Review).
One of the Best books on the greatest statesman ever
I have many books on metternich, He was one of the most important man who ever lived in the 19th century,His thoughts inspired even Henry Kissinger who was a great diplomate for the United States. He skill and knowledge keeped Europe out of major war for 100 yrs after the Congress of Vienna which he was instrumental in saving Europe after the devastating Napolionic wars. He led Europe for almost 50yrs, and has shaped the world as we know it today. This book is very well writen, and gives a great account of his dealings with napolion, and The allied powers after. Very interesting to read, and very imformative, and a must for all historians. One of the Best books I have ever read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1773-1859    2. 1789-1900    3. Austria    4. Biography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Fèurst von,    7. General    8. Historical - General    9. History    10. History - General History    11. History: World    12. Metternich, Clemens Wenzel Lothar,    13. Modern - 19th Century    14. Politics and government    15. Statesmen    16. Western Europe - General    17. Biography: historical    18. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    19. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (2)

Invaluable Resource for Those Interested in the Middle Ages
The one essential tool I think those who are seriously interested in the Middle Ages need is a good reference text on Medieval Catholicism.Without a good understanding of the Church and Christendom, there simply cannot be a good understanding of the texts or of the society.Even most contemporary Roman Catholics have forgotten (or never understood) topics such as the medieval concept of sin (mortal, venial, original), monasticism, fasting, the use of psalters, rosaries, breviaries, etc.To fill in the knowledge gaps in these and other areas, I use and strongly recommend this book. I discovered it 8-10 years ago at Cambridge University where it was wildly praised and widely read.It may not be a book you'd want to read straight through (though you could do so because it's not that long), but it is one that you'll want to consult again and again as a reference text.

Good general intro to medieval christian beliefs & practices
The book does not assume a great knowledge of Catholic beliefs, practices and history, although it is written in a scholarly style, and is aimed at University level readers. Within the class of textbooks, it is an easy read, and full of fascinating titbits. Did you know that there were Catholics in China in the 13th century? The book does contain some church history, but is more interested in the beliefs and practices of ordinary people, and their interaction with the church. Highly recommended especially to people interested in everyday medieval life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - General    2. Church history    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Medieval    7. Middle Ages, 600-1500    8. Western Europe - General    9. World - General    10. Europe    11. European history: c 500 to c 1500    12. History / Europe / Western    13. History of religion    14. History, World | Medieval    15. Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church    16. Western Continental Europe    17. c 1000 CE to c 1500    18. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Medieval    6. Western Europe - General    7. Antiques & collectables: books, manuscripts, ephemera & printed matter    8. History / World    9. WORLD HISTORY   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - Catholic    2. Christianity - History - General    3. History    4. History: World    5. Institutions & Organizations    6. Medieval    7. Religion - Church History    8. Western Europe - General    9. CHRISTIAN LIFE_EARLY CHURCH, ca. 30-600    10. Christian communities & monasticism    11. History of religion    12. MONASTIC AND RELIGIOUS LIFE    13. Religion / Church History    14. Western Continental Europe    15. World history: BCE to c 500 CE    16. World history: c 500 to C 1500   

Editorial Review

Founded in the 13th century as a trading post on a windswept Prussian plain, Berlin was something of an accidental capital. It was selected by Chancellor Bismarck after Germany's unification in 1871, in part because the choice of any other city--Munich, say, or Frankfurt--would have provoked terrible regional rivalries. As it was, the rest of Germany simply looked down on the hinterland Berliners as, in historian David Clay Large's words, "parvenus whose civilization was hardly more substantial than the Prussian sands on which their town was built."Read more

Reviews (4)

An excelent study on a fascinating city.
Though at first the size of the book seems to be huge, Large infused every page of this wonderful novel with sensory rich descriptions that helped the reader feel what life in Berlin was like during the city's many different stages.Clearly an expert in this field, Large provides amusing and interesting details about famous landmarks, areas, and figures throughout the cities turbulant history.Having read the book only weeks before my planned trip to the German capital, I now look at the book as an indepth tour guide of the city.I got goosebumps sometimes even seeing a street sign named after an important figure in the city's history who after reading the book, I was able to recall the impact this person had on creating the atmosphere of the vibrant city of modern Berlin, now one of my very favorite in all the world.

....Berlin said best....
Once again David C. Large proposes that college required reading and a sense of humor can be assimilated.Stating that the "Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church looked better after the carpet bombing of World War II than before" is comical, yet sadly true!Large educates the reader about Europe's most captivating city, Berlin!He manages to not only remind us of its beauty, but that it is a romantisch city that need not be known only as the former Nazi capital.A consistent and entertaining book, an asset to history itself.Steve Newman

Overrated in every way
Large can certainly write a smooth and engaging narrative.But that's about all that I can recommend about this book.Large's caustic and cynical view of Berlin and Berliners is can be extremely off-putting, bordering at times on the offensive.I found his particular comment that the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church looked better after the carpet bombing of World War II than before to be extremley offensive, especially in light of how many thousands of Berlin's civilians were killed during that particular episode of "architectural improvement."Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Holocaust    5. Western Europe - General   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History: World    3. Western Europe - General    4. British & Irish history: c 1000 to c 1500    5. British Isles    6. History / Great Britain    7. Western Continental Europe   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Great Britain - History    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Political History    7. Political Process - General    8. Western Europe - General    9. British & Irish history: c 1000 to c 1500    10. England    11. Great Britain--Politics and government--1399-1485    12. History / Great Britain   

Reviews (13)

Mind, the maps are not so good... but the text is a must.
Of course, I practically agree at 100% with everything the other reviewers have said, but let's be fair deducing stars because the maps are sketchy (at best), and sometimes irritatingly not shown with NORTH at the top of the page (???)... is not a good policy when the main objective of the book IS PERFECTLY ACOMPLISHED!, explaining the whole context of the Peninsular War, so for once the view is not restricted to Moore's + Wellington's campaigns, and the battle of Bailen, the sieges of Zaragoza and Girona, and a lot of actions on the East, South and North of the main (from a purely british point of view) actions are fully accounted for .
Could have been better
This is the first history of the Peninsular War that I've read, so on the one hand I can't compare it to other works on the subject as some other reviewers have done. On the other hand, I perhaps view the book differently since I am outside of that context.
A one volume history of the Peninsular War
David Gates' "The Spanish Ulcer" provides one of the very few single volume histories of the Peninsular War that attempts to address the entire conflict and not focus on, for example, the exploits of the Anglo-Portuguese Army.Gates addresses the actions of the Imperial French, the struggles of the Spanish politicians, armies and guerillas, and the fiasco of Portugal prior to the British intervention.That Gates manages to do in one volume what Charles Oman required seven volumes to cover is, however, both a strength and a weakness.On the one hand, students of the era now have a single reasonably comprehensive summary of the Peninsular War phase.On the other hand, of necessity, much of the detail of a very complex conflict is compressed, while the narrative tends to jump from place to place.Some advance knowledge of the conflict is almost required to make sense of the many moving parts.Unfortunately, the maps provided in the text are not well designed and more confusing than helpful.Readers are advised to track the action on their own large map of the Iberian Peninsula.This book is strongly recommended to those with an interest in the Peninsular War but not the time or energy to work through the longer studies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Military - Other    6. Western Europe - General