this very long, very well-written, well-translated book gives a comprehensive view of the "long" 19th century (roughly from the time of the foundation of the US until just before World War I) from all over the world, though with a (deseerved or undeserved) focus on European and European "offspring" countries (but includes more material on Japan, China, and maybe India than other "third world" areas of the world). the 19th century was a century of "globalization" in many aspects, which provides one way of providing a "globalized" history. at the same time, Osterhammel points out many areas where important events/processes in non-European countries were driven by an internal, rather than globalized, dynamic.
in addition to globalization and revolutions, the 19th century was also a century of "nation building". while Osterhammel doesn't dwell on individual cases (perhaps other than Japan), he provides something like "hints" of how nation building was motivated, how it affected people's thinking, etc. for an American of the late 20th/early 21st century, the fact that a time before "nations" is a revelation.
for me, as a non-historian, one of the joys of reading this book was seeing the breadth of topics that *are* of interest to professional historians, as well as how historians take different views on controversial (at least within the discipline) issues.
the bibliography is very extensive, and the footnotes are relevant. (i read this on a Kindle, and it would be nice if references to bibliographic entries in the footnotes were "active", so i wouldn't be forever having to "open" the footnotes, highlight the cited book's author/title, and then search the book to find, e.g., full title of the book, publication date, etc.)
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Customers say
Customers find the book transforms their understanding of global history through extensive research and thinking, with one review highlighting its encyclopedic coverage of the 19th century. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback, and customers appreciate its well-translated content and importance. However, customers disagree on the book's readability, with some finding it very readable while others describe it as dull.
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18 customers mention perspective, 16 positive, 2 negative
Ken Follet's work is always well researched and very readable. His narrative holds together even as he focuses on characters in disparate countries....Read more
...Accuracy, clarity and a keen eye for what matters is a hallmark of this book!Read more
A great learn and also an easy read. Most enjoyableRead more
...global history published to date - and a book that transforms our understanding of global history, not just for the "long 19th century".Read more
9 customers mention content depth, 8 positive, 1 negative
Brilliant, encyclopedic coverage of the 19th and some of the 18th and 20th centuries' history!...Read more
...read In years: world history at it's most ambitious, it is remarkably comprehensive, readable, and fascinating....Read more
Comprehensive, readable, enlightening slants on familiar themes.Read more
...Highly detailed and documented, it is an interesting read.Read more
6 customers mention writing style, 5 positive, 1 negative
A fascinating subject, well researched and well written. The trouble is, what can be said in one paragraph this book covers in twenty....Read more
this very long, very well-written, well-translated book gives a comprehensive view of the "long" 19th century...Read more
An enchantingly written book. Do read it.Read more
...Lucidly written for the layman (me), and, I would guess, adequately referenced, footnoted and organized for the scholars....Read more
3 customers mention importance, 3 positive, 0 negative
An absolute masterpiece. The most important book in the field of global history published to date - and a book that transforms our understanding of...Read more
An important work. Thorough and imaginative. Well translated. Recommended for all serious students of modern global history.Read more
Important book whose length could have been cut by a third...Read more
3 customers mention translation quality, 3 positive, 0 negative
An important work. Thorough and imaginative. Well translated. Recommended for all serious students of modern global history.Read more
...Osterhammel sees links where others see nothing but a muddle. Fluent translation too....Read more
this very long, very well-written, well-translated book gives a comprehensive view of the "long" 19th century...Read more
11 customers mention readability, 6 positive, 5 negative
Ken Follet's work is always well researched and very readable. His narrative holds together even as he focuses on characters in disparate countries....Read more
It is too obtuse and to me not a good read, probably because I am too visceral to get the authors "take" on the great transformation.Read more
...world history at it's most ambitious, it is remarkably comprehensive, readable, and fascinating....Read more
This book is dry and dull. This author was in love with his own voice (so to speak)Read more
4 customers mention pacing, 2 positive, 2 negative
...with all its benefits and ills was created by Europe I find his approach excellent.Read more
...no coherent thesis. I wanted to like this, but I can'tRead more
A magisterial summary of the way the 19th Century, world-wide transformed everything that followed it.Read more
...The trouble was that the author’s approach emphasized a focus on interpretation and theory, not say on person or circumstance....Read more
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- Paul MorlandReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2024
Nothing short of a masterwork
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CaioReviewed in Brazil on January 8, 2026
Um panorama denso e profundo de uma época
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
