Things I Read — The Shortest History of Europe
Being on a not-very-wanted cusp of a potential exit from the European Union, I thought it best to delve into the topic du jour and learn all about the history of Europe. This represents a small (see: rather big) blind spot in my knowledge owing to what I admit is a terrible understanding of history as a subject. Although I took it at school, I’ve never been one to regale facts and figures about the evolution of our society throughout the ages. It’s something I’m hoping to rectify, beginning with this book – The Shortest History of Europe . Though I do quite like wandering around museums... Much like a tin of Ronseal, the book does exactly what you’d imagine. It takes us through times of antiquity, leading towards Rome, straight through to the canals of Medieval Europe, before dropping us squarely into the tumultuous events of the 20 th Century. It’s divided into three main sections - each providing a brief but engaging pitch about eventful chapters of European life. The wr...