The only comprehensive one I can think of would be Norman Davies's - British historian who also wrote a history of Europe (and who gave a great deal more spotlight to Poland and Eastern Europe than most Historians).
His history of Poland was an earlier two-volume effort. He's also written the history of a Polish town later, IRRC (haven't read that one).
Not sure his history of Poland is still in print at the moment, but it seems to resurface regularly (it could well be the only modern global history of Poland in English - at least I've never seen any other in the bookstores in the last few decades).
All I remember of it was that it was interesting and "exotic". Being almost unique I'm not sure if it's comparable for instance to Norwich's history of Venice (similarly unique), somewhat considered a masterpiece of narrative history in English, but that I've seen attacked (or discredited) for its poor scholarship/shallow analysis/errors in nearly every other book I've read on Venetian history.
I have a clearer memory of what Davies used to say on Eastern Europe in his "Europe", and he seemed to know his stuff, and he is quite readable too.
His history of Poland was an earlier two-volume effort. He's also written the history of a Polish town later, IRRC (haven't read that one).
Not sure his history of Poland is still in print at the moment, but it seems to resurface regularly (it could well be the only modern global history of Poland in English - at least I've never seen any other in the bookstores in the last few decades).
All I remember of it was that it was interesting and "exotic". Being almost unique I'm not sure if it's comparable for instance to Norwich's history of Venice (similarly unique), somewhat considered a masterpiece of narrative history in English, but that I've seen attacked (or discredited) for its poor scholarship/shallow analysis/errors in nearly every other book I've read on Venetian history.
I have a clearer memory of what Davies used to say on Eastern Europe in his "Europe", and he seemed to know his stuff, and he is quite readable too.
Looking for good book on Polish history. Any suggestions?
01/05/2011 05:56:47 PM
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In English?
01/05/2011 10:20:15 PM
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Re: Looking for good book on Polish history. Norman Davies would be the one to go for.
01/05/2011 10:57:05 PM
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