A Short History of the Twentieth Century - by Geoffrey Blainey (Paperback)

About the Book

Geoffrey 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--not only major transformations but also the everyday experiences of people aro...

Book Synopsis

Most readers will find much that is new to them here, and sometimes material that refutes what they thought they knew. Blainey's analysis of the world's great religions alone justifies the book, but it is only part of a broad tapestry that ranges across the entire human experience.-William L. O'Neill

Review Quotes

"Another outstanding work by Australia's most eminent historian.... It is a great book." --John Hayman, Henry Thornton

"Blainey's style is...the kind that George Orwell said was his ideal: 'transparent as a windowpane.'" --John Derbyshire, Claremont Review of Books

"Blainey has lived through wars and seen their fruits-invention as well as destruction. [His book] holds good and evil in balance." --Morag Fraser, The Age

"Blainey's ability to weave diverse elements together [makes] A Short History of the 20th Century so inviting." --California Bookwatch

"This newest tome is a good read. Baliney writes for the general-interest reader, curious about our world. But amateur history buffs won't be disappointed." --Dawn House, Salt Lake Tribune

"Packing 100 years of world events and personalities into one book is a monumental task. Geoffrey Blainey does it." --Oklahoman

"A breakneck tour of a very busy century." --Globe and Mail

"Writing with great sophistication and grace, Blainey weaves together the momentous events of the 20th century." --The Christian Century

"Blaine covers this all in 27 succinct chapters...To present an engaging, illuminating, terse history of the 20th century as Blainey has done is a considerable accomplishment. Highly recommended." --R. C. Cottrell, Choice Reviews

"With great sophistication and grace, Blainey weaves together the momentous events of the 20th century." --The Christian Century

"His descriptive narratives are effective in helping readers to visualize certain periods of the century." --Journal of World History

A breakneck tour of a very busy century.

Another outstanding work by Australia's most eminent historian.... It is a great book.

Blaine covers this all in 27 succinct chapters...To present an engaging, illuminating, terse history of the 20th century as Blainey has done is a considerable accomplishment. Highly recommended.

Blainey has lived through wars and seen their fruits-invention as well as destruction. [His book] holds good and evil in balance.

Blainey's ability to weave diverse elements together [makes] A Short History of the 20th Century so inviting.

Blainey's style is...the kind that George Orwell said was his ideal: 'transparent as a windowpane.'

His descriptive narratives are effective in helping readers to visualize certain periods of the century.

Packing 100 years of world events and personalities into one book is a monumental task. Geoffrey Blainey does it.

This newest tome is a good read. Baliney writes for the general-interest reader, curious about our world. But amateur history buffs won't be disappointed.

With great sophistication and grace, Blainey weaves together the momentous events of the 20th century.

Writing with great sophistication and grace, Blainey weaves together the momentous events of the 20th century.

About the Author

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.