This book is incredible in the way that it illustrates a world that we've lived in, yet never looked at quite like this. Gran explains various countries roads to the present. This read will challenge the way that you think of the world. Highly reccommended

Few works have successfully attempted to compare and explain world history by showing how states form and use intellectuals and notions of caste to maintain rule and hegemony. Through an original approach Gran succeeds in proposing the use of four distinctive paradigms of modern state formation, each with unique characteristics, but more importantly sharing features that show up in various states. By breaking with the Eurocentric model, and the elite state centered view of history, Gran proposes that development in Russia, the "Russian Road" of development, shares characteristics of a weak middle class and a tendency to alternating between liberal phases and autocratic rule in its hegemony of rule. The Russian Road of state formation and hegemony shares characteristics with similar modern state formations in Iraq, Turkey and other states.

Italy, on the other hand, provides an example of "Italian Road" formations with its inherent contradictions of regional conflict, a weakly integrated and 'underdeveloped' rural Southern population, which the North can only reach out to by appealing to the traditional Southern intellectuals, clergy and landowning interests. Italy shares characteristics with modern state formation in India and Mexico which experience a similar problem of regional struggle and contradictions. Gran proposes two other major paradigms of modern state formation: the tribal ethnic state, of which he analyzes Zaire and Albania as notable examples, and the bourgeois democratic state, of which his analysis of the United States and Britain are especially insightful for his treatment of the notion of race as caste in these states. Gran expands on the sociology and interpretive framework provided by Antonio Gramsci and draws on comparative analyses of Stuart Hall for Britain, or Partha Chaterjee for India, Eugene Genovese for the problem of the South in U.S. History. Gran's originality is as thought provoking as his methodology which offers challenging essays for each region and paradigm, by analyzing its historiography and the organization of culture as a component of hegemony. This book offers some examples of struggles of subaltern groups and non elites in the making of their own histoyr.

Yet, more work could be done on aspects of counterhegemonic struggle by subaltern groups, and as Gran alludes, the analysis of those states which combine features of several types of his paradigms. As Gran suggests, for example, Egypt offers features of the Italian Road in its internal regional conflicts and the pitted struggles of traditional intellectuals with the modern state, but also displays features of the Russian Road in some state policies.

Spain for example offers contradictions seen in the Italian Road, the clash of traditional intellectuals, and the conservative Catholics, and Catholic Reform, Opus Dei, in contrast with the the needs of the modern organic intellectuals and the problems of regional absorption and struggles. In Spain, the features of regional autonomy offers parallels with the Russian Road problematic of breakaway ethnic struggles, and language and education policy, the Basques and the Catalans, for example. Other combined models may be further analyzed in Japan or Latin American states for example. This is a work that provokes thought. It offers a watershed of ideas that is topical and disturbingly shakes our consciousness of regions that have evaded analysis, as in Albania and Zaire. His essays on the limits of Russian and other states centered historiography is especially insightful. Beyond Eurocentrism may be used as a manual of how to begin the analysis of our times and the struggles of ordinary people in different regions and states.

if youre a Bf-109 fan, buy it. Good color drawings and great info.

This book details the Units like JGs 51,52 and 54 which flew the Messerschmitt fighter from the "Emil" to the final "Gustav" variants in combat against the Soviets from the massive Russian slaughter in Barbarossa 1941 to the Defeat of the Third Reich in 1945. The book details the aces of Gunther Rall(275 kills), Gerhard Barkhorn(301 kills) and Erich Hartmann(352 Kills). Who all scored the bulk of their amazing tallyings against the Red Air Forces. The last of four volumes in the Aces series on the Messerschmitt BF 109 in Luftwaffe service, this title includes all the high-scoring aces, and explains how the pilots achieved such overwhelimng scores.

This book is an excellent source of historical information for anyone interested in the history of the 35th Division during WWII. The author is a trained historian and he also served as a battalion commander with the 134th Inf. Regiment, 35th Division during the war (he was actually involved in many of the battles which he describes so vividly in this book). I highly recommend this book.

For anyone who served or whose family served in the 134th Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Army (Gen. Patton's), this is a hair raising daily account of where your loved one's greatest moments took place. This writer provides a foot soldier's perspective with a Phd. in history to skillfully record the World's greatest war and greatest battle (Battle of the Bulge). A must read for anyone whose loved one experienced WWII but, who as my father, was reticent to relive their story to their family.

Otto Pflanze's book describes how Bismarck manipulated domestic and international politics to unify Germany.
This book, ending in 1871 at the end of the first phase of Bismarck's career is the first of three volumes. The book begins by showing how idealists and romantics tried and failed to unite Germany, but Bismarck was a realist and based his methods on the strengths and weaknesses of individuals.

First Bismarck used cunning diplomacy to isolate the Austria, Prussia's rival for control of the German states. The Franco Austrian war demonstrated Austria's weakness, and increased worries among northern Germans about French strength. This improved Prussia's hand, and later Bismarck's hand.

Pflanze follows Bismarck's tactics step by step through his labyrinthine maneuvers as he
played France against Austria during the Schleswig Holstein situation Bismarck wanted to separate Austria from the German confederation and inspire the northern German states to unite into a Northern German confederation.

After Bismarck unified northern Germany he designed the constitution to allow him to play the Reichstag against the Prussian chamber of deputies. There was also a balance of power between the state and confederate governments. We also see domestic political and economic background to Bismarck's actions. Pflanze shows the domestic politics after Bismarck created the northern German confederation.

Bismarck used relations with France to make advances toward the southern German states. Pflanze carefully shows how Bismarck cleverly tried to use the Luxemburg crisis to woo the southern German states. But the southern German states were afraid of being overwhelmed by Prussia. The only thing that the southern German states admired about the northern German confederation was the Prussian military expertise.

Relations between France and Prussia worsened when the throne of Spain was offered to a Hohenzollern Kaiser William did not care if any of his relatives got the Spanish throne or not. But when Bismarck made it seem that the French had demanded that Kaiser William renounce any attention in the Spanish throne, he angrily refused. The nationalist French responded by declaring war.

Bismarck wanted a war with France to inspire the southern Germans to join the northern confederation against the threat of France. In this he succeeded. But nationalist anger of many, and political reasons of Bismarck caused Germany to annex Alsace Lorraine, which resulted in permanent hatred from France.
The only faults of this book are that Pflanze should have described the people more. He also should have included more maps and a bibliography.

This is a work which, if you like solid history, you should read. It tells of the momentous things going on in Europe in the 19th century which are illuminated by this excellent work

While most educators and textbooks in the US would have us believe the polarization of oppression and race along lines of skin pigmentation is the natural, inherent, and historical condition of ethnic interaction, Dooley's book suggests otherwhise. _Black and Green_ looks at the common link forged by oppression and the struggle for liberation between white Irish and black Americans since the 1800s.

Dooley examines the political, social, and ideological connections between the civil rights struggle in Ireland and America. His analysis results in a picture of reciprocal interchange with both sides influencing, shaping, and supporting the other. The end result is that this "other" demarcated through pigmentation was hardly an "other" during the historical moment. Angela Davis and Bernadette McAliskey support each other while in prison. When McAliskey later receives the keys to the city of New York for her work in Ireland, she gives them to the Black Panther Party. Frederick Douglas and O'Connell heavily influence each other's political thought and speak out in support of each other's cause. Marcus Garvey claims the color scheme of his movement reflects the struggle of various liberation moments of different races all over the world, including the Irish (Red for the reds of the world, green for the Irish struggle, and black for the African American, or, as he puts it at the time, the "Negro struggle." )

Dooley's writing is lucid, engaging, and often narrative. As his innovative and perhaps contentious claims demand, Dooley's research is heavily documumented, often cites primary sources, and features hundreds of foot notes at the book's end. Educators and researchers may use this book with the confidence that they can ascertain with some degree of certainty the primary sources from which Dooley's arguments arise. Further, Dooley's writing is eminently accessible and multi-layered. I have used sections of chapters in my middle school classroom in the Bronx and cited Dooley extensively in papers for graduate school. _Black and Green_ is an invaluable resource for race studies, American or Irish history, and civil rights seminars.

The key to understanding who the oppressed are and who the oppressors are is determined by looking at who the domestic workers are and for whom they work. Who is it that picks up after whom? Bernadette Devlin McAlisky's keen political sense with activists in the civil rights struggle and affluent Irish-Americans is very revealing. Catholic women pick up after Protestant families in Ireland. African-American women pick up after affluent Irish-American families in America. She felt more at home with members of The Black Panther Party than with these affluent Irish Americans. The support of the abolition struggle by Irish republicans such as Daniel O'Connell is of historic import. The support the Irish struggle by fighters such as Frederick Douglas and Marcus Garvey is also of historic interest. However, the interchange of tactics by both struggles is most revealing. The historic Belfast-Derry March in January 1969 was modeled after the Selma-Montgomery protest four earlier. The Montgomery bus boycott got its name from Captain Boycott an avaricious Irish landlord. Michael Farrell set up the Young Socialist Alliance in Ireland modeled after the Young Socialists Alliance in the United States. Black and Green has much more of interest for American understanding of the Irish struggle and is must reading for fighters struggling against oppression and bigotry.

I agree with the excellent review already listed here, but I would like to add that the value of the book for a more casual reader (like myself) is having the opportunity to read the reactions to and observation of the plague by people who lived through this terrible period. The reality of their words heightened the reality of the period for me. It is true that some parts of the book were a bit too dense for me (some of the allusions went right over my head), but the rest of the book provides a wonderful insight into the minds and souls of real human beings who still have much to say to those of us living centuries later. Highly recommended--and not just for scholars.

From 1348 to 1350 Europe was devastated by an epidemic that left between one third and one half of the population dead. Using contemporary writings, this collection of sources traces the calamitous impact of the Black Death in Europe, with particular emphasis on its spread across England from 1348 to 1349. Rosemary Horrox surveys contemporary responses to the plague. The almost universal belief that the plague was an expression of divine anger at the sins of humankind did not preclude the attempts to explain the epidemic in scientific and medical terms or to look for human scapegoats. The sources which are included show some of the social and psychological impact of the plague, chronicle its effects on the late-medieval economy, and illustrate the fear that spread with the disease as well as the diverse ways that such terror influenced social behavior.

Part One focuses on narrative accounts of the plague in Continental Europe and in the British Isles. Part Two examines explanations and responses to the plague, including religious and scientific. Part Three deals with the extraordinary consequences of the plague, its impact and repercussions. Finally the text ends with excellent and up-to-date suggestions for further reading.

Dr. Horrox's text is the most extensive collection of relevant sources in translation and is an invaluable addition to the field. This book should be a part of the personal collection of every serious student of the Medieval period.

If these delectable guides' plentiful pix don't get you drooling to explore, you need to get your salivary glands checked. The text is also noteworthy. (NY Daily News)

One of the best travel book series, with attention to detail, plus numerous color photographs and fine maps. Lots of instructions regarding practical travel matters. (Travel Books Review)

Ravensbruck stood out among German concentration camps as gender specific: only women were imprisoned there. Perhaps for this reason, it has suffered from historical neglect, despite the fact that its inmates were often extremely important members of resistance movements in France, Germany and throughout Europe. By translating this extremely important memoir of Nanda Herbermann, known and taught widely in Germany, the Baers have made an important first step in telling the history of Ravensbruck. Baer's scholarly introduction frames the memoir from many angles--women in the holocaust, the new woman, the Catholic Church and the Nazis and wartime resistance. This is an important book for scholars of the twentieth century, and would make an excellent choice for teaching Nazi Germany, the Second World War and the Holocaust. It would also fit well in courses on women's autobiography.

What do you think of whenever you hear the word, "Holocaust?" If you are like me, you think of German concentration camps and the Jews. It came as a complete surprise to me that Roman Catholic Aryan German could land in one of their "own"camps. This is exactly what happened to Nanda Herbermann, a German living in Munster. As an editor and writer for The Grail, her parish publication, Herbermann and parish priest, Father Muckermann, were part of the German, Catholic resistance to the Nazis. For this, Muckermann was forced to flee Germany; Herbermann was eventually arrested by the Gestapo and incarcerated at Ravensbruck, a concentration camp for women. In her own words, penned in "The Blessed Abyss, Inmate #6582 in Ravensbruck Concentration Camp for Women," we receive from Herbermann a detailed account of the horrors of her daily life, but from a very different perspective than Jewish accounts. Here is a woman who was brought up as an Aryan, with Aryan views, who slowly softens and revises her attitude toward Jews, lesbians, prostitutes and all other minorities imprisoned in Ravensbruck as she is thrown in among them and faced with the realities of their mutual hardships. Her incredulity that this is happening to her, that these atrocities are committed by her beloved, fellow Germans is a crushing blow. It is truly her faith that carries her through these daily "stations of the cross." This compelling reading is enhanced by Hester and Elizabeth Baer's meticulously written Preface and Introduction. Here she provides the reader with a detailed history of the Catholic Church's involvement with the Nazis, Herbermann's life and family, and a provocative discussion of women and the Holocaust. This is truly eye-opening, ground breaking reading that I consider imperative to any scholar of the Holocaust or someone who wants to read "the rest of the story."

This is a truly wonderful book. Todd describes the homes of many of the people who participated in the Bloomsbury group, in addition to the complex interrelationships of the people involved, their parties and their artwork. She is one of the most focused biographers I have read: always interesting, always to the point. Considering the number of people she has to write about, it is amazing that she never strays from her focus. The book is beautifully designed and illustrated. It is a book that I will go back to over and over.

Bloomsbury at Home is a welcome addition to the bibliography of titles about the very interesting, influential and eccentric group of artists who flourished in England and France during the early part of the twentieth century. These multitalented poets, writers, painters and thinkers lived life enthusiastically and shared ideas, activities and loves with each other and the world. Pamela Todd's extended essay on the Bloomsburyites, including Vanessa Bell, Virginia Woolf, Lytton Strachey and Duncan Grant captures their individuality, and sometimes irrationality, while celebrating their devotion to freedom of thought. The really spectacular and original contribution of Bloomsbury at Home, however, comes with the reproduction of a number of paintings and drawings by the Bloomsbury group, which are otherwise difficult to find gathered in one place. This book is a treasured and inexpensive addition to my library of literary and artistic movements, and I highly recommend it to others interested in the relationship of the visual and literary arts to modern society before the Second World War.

For more than 30 years, this book has been an indispensable companion for anyone traveling to Greece who wants to get the maximum out of the experience. The comprehensiveness and depth of research this guide reflects is simply astonishing. That is partly a function of sheer individual effort -- how many other guidebooks incorporate the results of the authors' reading of more than a hundred archaeological reports? -- and partly a function of the fact that this guide has been polished, updated, improved and fine-tuned over three-and-a-half decades by a very able succession of individual authors.

But why, more specifically, should you buy and rely on the Blue Guide? I would suggest the following reasons.

1. Armed with this guide, you won't miss anything of significance at any place you visit. When you visit the Museum at Olympia, you'll know to look out for the helmet that the Athenian general Miltiades wore at the Battle of Marathon and later dedicated at the Temple of Zeus. You'll know to look out for the clay cup found in the ruins of the sculptor Pheidias's workshop, which is inscribed with his name on the bottom. If you want to find the site of the cobbler Simon's shop in the Athenian agora, where Socrates is said to have spent much of his time hanging out, this guide will get you there. It'll tell you the spot on the road between Delphi and Thebes where Oedipus is believed to have murdered his father. If you go to see the Menelaion near Sparta, the Blue Guide will alert you that at the back of the hill on which it stands are the rooms and corridors of a little-known Mycenaean palace that may once have been the home of Helen of Troy (assuming she was actually a historical person). And when you visit the fortress at Methone, it'll tell you the tragic story that lies behind the little islet with the lighthouse at the very end of the cape.

One side benefit of having this book is that you can save on hiring local guides when you visit places like the Agora in Athens. If you've got this guide, you'll know more than they will.

2. Another good reason to buy this guide is that it'll save you from getting lost. There are no fewer than 70-plus (count 'em) city plans and archaeological site plans in this volume. Inner Athens is covered in a very comprehensive series of maps -- you should even be able to get through the maze-like warren of the Plaka with the Blue Guide. And the route system used in the guide comprehensively explains how to get to every point of interest, even when a detour off the main route is called for. In particular, if you've got any interest in visiting fascinating but somewhat obscure sites like the Menelaion near Sparta, this book is a must.

By the way, this guide is also quite good on scenic wonders and tracks into the wilderness. It's not just for marble ruin nuts.

3. Don't know much about Greek history? Or art? Or architecture? This is the volume for you -- as long as you really want to learn. The section of introductory essays on these topics are wonderfully comprehensive.

4. Personally, I love the way the Blue Guide is written with this marvelously restrained British narrative voice. It makes it all the more fun when the authors actually break out of character, take you by the shoulders, and say 'don't miss this' -- as when they advise that "The view at sunrise [from the summit of Mount Parnassus], before the mists gather, exceeds in grandeur and interest almost every other prospect in the world."

Is there any reason you might not want to buy the Blue Guide? Well, you should be aware of the following.

A. This guide isn't for people who only want to travel with a single guidebook. It doesn't cover hotels, restaurants, shopping, or nightclubs. So you'll need to pair this guide with another, more standard one that addresses those more functional concerns.

B. It doesn't include Crete. The Crete chapter ultimately grew so big that it was hived off into a separate Blue Guide all its own.

C. This guide isn't for the "once over lightly" tourist. If that's where you're coming from, you won't need this book. This book is for the traveler who likes to be challenged and have their horizons broadened, who is willing to come back from a trip fired up with ideas for further reading.

This book, which is part of a larger series, covers Greece. And it is the best book of its kind. When I went to Greece this book gave me all the pertinent information about all the sites, musuems, and other general information. This is the book Archaeologists use in Greece, so should anyone who goes. Not a tourist book, but the most comprehensive site book with maps and addresses and phone numbers, along with information. If you go to Greece, you must get this one.