A Short History of England

A sweeping, illustrated history of Europe--a continent whose imperial ambitions, internal clashes, and existential threats are as vital today as they were during the conquests of Alexander the Great <BR><BR> In just a few hundred years, a modest peninsula off the northwest corner of Asia has seen the rise and fall of several empires; served as the crucible for scientific dynamism, cultural innovation, and economic revolution; and witnessed cataclysms and bloodshed that have almost destroyed it several times over. This is Europe: a continent whose identity emerged not so much by virtue of geographic or ethnic continuity, but by a long and storied struggle for power.<BR><BR> Studded with infamous figures--from Caesar to Charlemagne and Machiavelli to Marx--Simon Jenkins's history of Europe travels briskly from the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages, and the Reformation through the French Revolution, the World Wars, and the fall of the USSR. What emerges in this thrilling and expansive telling is a continent as defined by its continually clashing cultural identities and violent crises as it is by its tireless drive for a society based on the consent of the governed -- which holds true right up to the present day.

The global powerhouse that is the United States of America is younger even than the British Museum, Guinness and the flushing toilet. In 2026 it will celebrate its 250th birthday. How did this vast land, long inhabited by diverse indigenous cultures, come to be dominated by English speakers? How has it grappled with the stark contradictions between its ideals of liberty and the grim reality of genocide and slavery?<BR><BR>This extraordinary collection of fifty distinct states has weathered immense - and recent - challenges, including a Civil War that was still raging as the first London Underground station opened. How did this melting pot of peoples and ideas not only endure but rise to dominate global politics, commerce, culture and warfare? What insights does this rich history offer about an increasingly divided nation - and the world that moves to its rhythm? Is this the twilight of American supremacy, signalling a shift toward a more introspective nation?<BR><BR>A Short History of America is rich with vivid characters - from arrogant conquistadors and idealistic revolutionaries to imperial presidents - and presents a narrative so astonishing it often feels like fake news. This is a gripping must-read for anyone seeking to make sense of our world today.

LONDON: a settlement founded by the Romans, occupied by the Saxons, conquered by the Danes and ruled by the Normans. This changeful place became a medieval maze of alleys and courtyards, later to be chequered with grand estates of Georgian splendour. It swelled with industry and became the centre of the largest empire in history. And having risen from the rubble of the Blitz, it is now one of the greatest cities in the world.<BR><BR>From the prehistoric occupants of the Thames Valley to the preoccupied commuters of today, Simon Jenkins brings together the key events, individuals and trends in London's history to create a matchless portrait of the capital. He masterfully explains the battles that determined how London was conceived and built - and especially the perennial conflict between money and power.<BR><BR>Based in part on his experiences of and involvement in the events that shaped the post-war city, and with his trademark colour and authority, Jenkins shows above all how London has taken shape over more than two thousand years. Fascinating for locals and visitors alike, this is narrative history at its finest, from the most ardent protector of our heritage.<BR><BR>'A handsome book ... full of the good judgements one might hope for from such a sensible and readable commentator, and they alone are worth perusing for pleasure and food for thought' Michael Wood, New Statesman on A Short History of England<BR><BR>'Any passably cultured inhabitant of the British Isles should ask for, say, three or four copies of this book for Christmas...I can imagine no better companion on a voyage across England' Max Hastings, Daily Telegraph on England's Thousand Best Houses

Sakrale Architektur, die zur Menschheitsgeschichte gehört! <BR>Die einzigartige Darstellung der schönsten Kirchen und Kathedralen Europas in diesem reich bebilderten Lesebuch zeigt, welche zentrale Rolle Sakralbauten bis heute in unserer Vorstellungswelt spielen. Von der Sagrada Familia über den Markusdom bis hin zum Kölner Dom und St. Paul's - Kathedralen stehen für acht Jahrhunderte der Bau-, Ingenieurs- und Handwerkskunst. Erfolgsautor Simon Jenkins hat alle Kirchen besucht und mit großer Sachkenntnis detailliert beschrieben. Treten Sie ein!<BR><BR>Bauwerke zum Innehalten und Bewundern<BR>Wer würde nicht über das besondere Lichtspiel in der Kathedrale von Toledo staunen? Oder beim Anblick der golden schimmernden Fresken von San Marco verweilen? Acht Jahrhunderte, nachdem die meisten dieser Kirchen und Kathedralen errichtet wurden, überragen sie noch immer Städte wie Köln, Paris, Moskau oder Barcelona und ziehen zahlreiche Besucher*innen wie Einheimische, gläubige wie nicht religiöse Menschen an. Diese Meisterwerke der Architektur zeugen von der religiösen und politischen Historie Europas sowie von deren Architektur-, Ingenieurs- und Handwerkskunst.<BR><BR>Europas Kathedralen sind Schatzkammern der Kunst und Meisterwerke der Architektur<BR>¿ Das umfassendste, reich bebilderte Sachbuch zu den schönsten Kirchen und Kathedralen Europas<BR>¿ Mit 15 Kirchen und Kathedralen aus dem deutschsprachigen Raum<BR>¿ Sachkundig, fundiert und unterhaltsam erzählt<BR>¿ Vermittelt leicht verständlich warum diese jahrhundertealten, monumentalen Sakralbauten für die europäische Kunst- und Geistesgeschichte damals wie heute prägend sind<BR><BR>Europäische Kirchen und Kathedralen, deren Einfluss die Jahrhunderte überdauert - ein umfassendes, sachkundiges und unterhaltsames Lesebuch über die wichtigsten Sakralbauten der letzten 800 Jahre.

Discover the history of Europe - from the Dark Ages to present day - by the author of the bestselling A Short History of England<BR><BR>Europe is an astonishingly successful place. But it would take volumes to tell its story, right? Wrong. From warring peoples to peace, wealth and freedom, Andrew Jenkins distils its evolution into this short, single-volume history.<BR><BR>From Greece and Rome, through the French Revolution to the Second World War and modern times. Taking in leaders such as Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Wellington and Angela Merkel.<BR>Sharing stories of cultural figures like Aristotle, Shakespeare and Picasso.<BR><BR>Jenkins brings together the transformative forces and dominant eras into one chronological tale - all with his insight, colour and authority.

'Jenkins sets about his task with infectious enthusiasm and draws out all the most important themes in America's 250-year history' The Times<BR><BR>In the two hundred and fifty years since its foundation, the United States of America has grown to become the world's richest and most powerful union. How did this new nation come to dominate global culture, economics, politics and warfare? <BR><BR>Informed by years of close observation, bestselling author Simon Jenkins follows the extraordinary journey of America from before independence through revolution to Civil War, its emergence onto the international stage and the turbulence of the present day. <BR><BR>We meet its most notable Presidents and see its most formative moments in a colourful and pacey narrative of a country often in turmoil, yet one that remains to many a land of freedom and a citadel of democracy with a story to inspire. <BR><BR>This is an essential read for anyone who seeks to understand the country that continues to shape our world.