Simon Jenkins

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From Stonehenge to the Shard

A Short History of British Architecture

Europe’s 100 Best Cathedrals

Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations

The Creation of a World Capital

A Short History of London

England's Thousand Best Churches

A Revolution in Three Acts

Thatcher and Sons

A Short History of Europe

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A short, invigorating gallop over two and a half thousand years

Simon Jenkins achieves a high ambition: a concise readable history of  two millennia of European civilisation from its discernible origins to our present perplexities. In 305 pages! . . . An immensely rewarding book from a gifted writer

Full of stand-out facts ... absolutely fascinating

Richard Bacon, BBC Radio 2, on 'A Short History of England'

Independent, Books of the Year on England's Thousand Best Churches

Jenkins is, like all good guides, more than simply informative: he can be courteous and rude, nostalgic and funny, elegant, convincing and relaxed

Adam Nicolson on 'England’s Thousand Best Houses'

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 on 'A Short History of England'

Any passably cultured inhabitant of the British Isles should ask for, say, three or four copies of this book

Max Hastings on 'England’s Thousand Best Houses'

Jenkins has produced the sort of work that not only compacts people and places into manageable form but also has wit and insight enough to bring a sense of freshness even to a knowledgeable history buff

From Pericles to Putin

Discover the history of Europe - from the Dark Ages to present day - by the author of the bestselling A Short History of England 
 
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. 
 
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. 
Sharing stories of cultural figures like Aristotle, Shakespeare and Picasso. 
 
Jenkins brings together the transformative forces and dominant eras into one chronological tale - all with his insight, colour and authority.

Simon Jenkins is author of the bestselling A Short History of England, A Short History of Europe, Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations, England's Thousand Best Churches and England's Thousand Best Houses. He is a former Editor of the Evening Standard and The Times, and columnist for the Guardian.

Europe has for two millennia been a remarkably successful continent. In this dazzling new history, bestselling author Simon Jenkins tells the story of its evolution from a battlefield of warring tribes to peace, wealth and freedom - a story that twists and turns from Greece and Rome, through the Middle Ages, Reformation and French Revolution, to the two World Wars and the present day. 
Jenkins embraces individuals from Julius Caesar and Joan of Arc, to Wellington and Angela Merkel, as well as cultural figures from Aristotle to Shakespeare and Picasso. Tracing themes down the ages, from youthful ambition and religious conflict to geographical constraints and invasion, he brings together the key forces and dominant periods into one chronological narrative - all with his usual insight, colour and authority. 
Despite the importance of Europe's politics, economy and culture, there has not been - until now - a concise book to tell this story. Covering the key events, eras and individuals, Jenkins' portrait of the continent could not be more timely - or more masterful.

A Short History of Europe

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Simon Jenkins

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