Books by Jeremy Black

Book SynopsisA thought-provoking and important book that raises essential issues crucial not only for understanding our past but also the present day.In this panoramic history, Jeremy Black tells how slavery was first developed in the ancient world, and reaches all the way to the present in the form of contemporary crimes such as trafficking and bonded labour. He shows how slavery has taken many forms throughout history and across the world - from the uprising of Spartacus, the plantations of the West Indies, and the murderous forced labour of the gulags and concentration camps.Slavery helped to consolidate transoceanic empires and helped mould new world societies such as America and Brazil. Black charts the long fight for abolition in the nineteenth century, looking at both the campaigners as well as the harrowing accounts of the enslaved themselves.Slavery is still with us today, and coerced labour can be found closer to home than one might expect.Trade ReviewA truly horrifying account of human cruelty. * Catholic Herald *A thought-provoking and important book that raises essential issues crucial not only for our past but also the present day. * Spartacus Review *

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Book SynopsisA global account of military strategy throughout history, from imperial strategies to those of anti-imperial insurgentsTrade Review“This book offers valuable insights into strategy.”—Beatrice Heuser, Financial Times“Black’s greatest strength is his deep knowledge of international history, which is fully on display.”—Lawrence Freedman, History Today“Once again, Jeremy Black has shown that he can meld incisive historical insight with important modern-day lessons. Anyone connected with strategic decision-making, even far beyond the military sphere, will profit from reading this hugely readable and scholarly work, as will anyone interested in seeing how the great decision-makers of the past got things so right occasionally, but so wrong all too often.”—Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny“Jeremy Black is one of Britain’s foremost historians and a world leader in the subject of military strategy. He has expanded his purview to the global story of strategy in a bold and imaginative study.”—John Bew, author of Citizen Clem: A Life of Attlee“This book succeeds in communicating the dynamics of strategy across a huge canvas in an intelligent, engaging but also an extremely erudite fashion. . . . It not only informs the reader of many aspects of the global history of strategy, it encourages readers to think about the subject matter and the historical challenges as they read.”—Alaric Searle, author of Armoured Warfare: A Military, Political and Global History

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Book SynopsisNaval operations and warfare were (and remain) a key element for mapping. This beautiful book looks at a series of key conflicts from the sixteenth century to the present day and explains how they were represented through mapping and how the maps produced helped naval commanders to plan their strategy. There are plentiful maps and a good story to tell, both about naval history and about mapping at sea. Conflicts covered include the the American Revolution, Spanish Armada, the Napoleonic Wars, the First and Second World Wars, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

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Book SynopsisThis anthology of Sumerian literature constitutes the most comprehensive collection ever published, and includes examples of most of the different types of composition written in the language, from narrative myths and lyrical hymns to proverbs and love poetry. The translations have benefited both from the work of many scholars and from our ever-increasing understanding of Sumerian. In addition to reflecting the advances made by modern scholarship, the translations are written in clear, accessible English. An extensive introduction discusses the literary qualities of the works, the people who created and copied them in ancient Iraq, and how the study of Sumerian literature has evolved over the last 150 years.Trade ReviewThis anthology successfully provides a taste of Sumerian literature on a scale never previously attempted. As an academic resource it opens up a previously impenetrable field and will be used in a wide range of university courses. It deserves a wider readership too. * Andrew George, THES *This excellent little book thoroughly deserves to find the wide readership it courts, and also to endure as a standard tool for university teaching and research. It is required reading for all who are interested in ancient intellectual cultures, in the study of the oldest literary forms, and in the field of comparative literature. * Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society *Table of ContentsA. HEROES AND KINGS; B. INANA AND DUMUZID; C. ENLIL AND NINLIL; D. THE MOON GOD NANNA-SUEN; E. THE WARRIOR GODS NERGAL, NUMUSHDA, AND NINURTA; F. LOVE AND SEX; G. THE NATURAL ORDER; H. THE HYMNIC GENRES; I. SCRIBES AND LEARNING; J. THE DECAD, A SCRIBAL CURRICULUM

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Book Synopsisjoie de vivreParis: A Short HistoryBlack explores how Paris has been shaped throughout time, starting in the first century BCE, when the city was founded by the Parisii. From a small Gallic capital conquered by the Romans, Paris transformed into a flourishing medieval city full of spectacular palaces and cathedrals, including Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame de Paris. During the illustrious reigns of Louis XIV and XV, Paris became one of the most beautiful and cosmopolitan capitals in the world, before the Revolution tore French society apart, changing the city forever. The Belle Époque brought new ideas and architecture to the city, including the iconic Eiffel Tower, before the destruction of World War I and II launched a massive regeneration project. Black completes his history by exploring present-day Paris and its role as the seat of a leading power on the world stage, and its future as the host of the 2024 Olympic Games.Paris: A Short History

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Jeremy Black is a superlative guide to modern British history. He combines a wonderful narrative style with unimpeachable intellectual authority. if anyone wants to understand how our country has developed over the last seventy years there is no better volume than this." -Michael Gove, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom "Throughout this volume, Professor Black demonstrates an enviable ability to communicate the most complex events incisively and economically-whether analyzing the Northern Irish 'Troubles' in a few pages, or the Miners' Strike in a few paragraphs. With masterly command of detail, he builds a picture of change and continuity which makes the outcome of Britain's Brexit referendum much easier to comprehend." -Julian Lewis, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom, Chairman, House of Commons Defense CommitteeTable of ContentsPreface: From Empire to Where?Prime Ministers from 1945Abbreviations1. Environment under Strain2. Economy under Strain3. Changing Society4. Changing Culture5. The After-Echoes of War, 1945-606. The Politics of Crisis, 1961-797. Thatcherism, 1979-908. Changing Directions, 1990-20169. British Issues, 1945-201610. European and World Questions11. Into the Future12. ConclusionsSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1985, this is a scholarly analysis of the Grand Tour, undertaken by young men in the eighteenth century to complete their education - a tour usually to France, Italy and Switzerland, and sometimes encompassing Germany.Table of Contents1. Numbers, Routes and Destinations 2. Transport 3. Accomodation, Food and Drink 4. War, Disputes, Accidents and Crime 5. Love, Sex, Gambling and Drinking 6. Health and Death 7. Cost and Finance 8. Social and Political Reflections 9. Religion 10. The Arts 11. The Debate over the Grand Tour: Conclusions

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Book SynopsisFrom the Great Exhibition''s showcasing of British national achievement in 1851 to the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Stratford in 2012 and on to Brexit, an insightful exploration of the transformation of modern BritainThis revised and updated fourth and final volume in the concise Brief History of Britain series begins in the specially-constructed Crystal Palace, three times the length of St Paul''s Cathedral, in Hyde Park at the beginning of the second half of the nineteenth century. The Great Exhibition it housed marked a high point of British national achievement, at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, at the heart of a great empire, with Queen Victoria still to reign for fifty years. It was a time of confidence in the future, and exuberant patriotism for Britain''s role in it.The beginning of the Second World War in 1939 marks a turning point because of the great change it heralded in Britain''s global standing. At its peak, protected by thTrade ReviewPraise for Jeremy Black's The HolocaustA demanding but important work. -- R. S. Levy, University of Illinois at ChicagoPraise for Jeremy Black's Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: A Global HistoryA significant and timely contribution to understanding the new meaning of war. * Choice *

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Book SynopsisA wonderfully concise and readable, yet comprehensive, history of the Mediterranean Sea, the perfect companion for any visitor -- or indeed, anyone compelled to stay at home.''The grand object of travelling is to see the shores of the Mediterranean.''Samuel Johnson, 1776The Mediterranean has always been a leading stage for world history; it is also visited each year by tens of millions of tourists, both local and international. Jeremy Black provides an account in which the experience of travel is foremost: travel for tourism, for trade, for war, for migration, for culture, or, as so often, for a variety of reasons. Travellers have always had a variety of goals and situations, from rulers to slaves, merchants to pirates, and Black covers them all, from Phoenicians travelling for trade to the modern tourist sailing for pleasure and cruising in great comfort.Throughout the book the emphasis is on the sea, on coastal regions and on port cities vTrade ReviewPraise for Jeremy Black's The Holocaust'A demanding but important work.'Praise for Jeremy Black's Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: A Global History'A significant and timely contribution to understanding the new meaning of war.' - Choice

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Book SynopsisAs the United Kingdom left the European Union, during a period of international and domestic turmoil, London found itself at a turning point. This critical moment presents an opportunity to look back, with a distinctive perspective, a focus on London in its national and, perhaps even more importantly, its international contexts, rather than on the city itself in isolation. It is the interactions of London that Black considers, and he does so in order to address the question as to why London became the foremost international city, how it sustained that position, and what its future holds. The book is as much about economics and culture as it is about politics and society. It deals with migration, communications, empire and cultural energy, rather than the mechanisms of parish vestries. London''s earlier period is covered, but the principal focus is on the last half millennium, the period during which London became a major trader with the trans-oceanic world, and the rTrade ReviewPraise for Jeremy Black's The Holocaust: A demanding but important work. -- R. S. Levy, University of Illinois at ChicagoPraise for Jeremy Black's Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: A Global History: A significant and timely contribution to understanding the new meaning of war. * Choice *

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Book SynopsisBringing back a classic work on the American War for Independence

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Book SynopsisKing of Britain for sixty years and the last king of what would become the United States, George III inspired both hatred and loyalty and is now best known for two reasons: as a villainous tyrant for America''s Founding Fathers, and for his madness, both of which have been portrayed on stage and screen.In this concise and penetrating biography, Jeremy Black turns away from the image-making and back to the archives, and instead locates George''s life within his age: as a king who faced the loss of key colonies, rebellion in Ireland, insurrection in London, constitutional crisis in Britain and an existential threat from Revolutionary France as part of modern Britain''s longest period of war.Black shows how George III rose to these challenges with fortitude and helped settle parliamentary monarchy as an effective governmental system, eventually becoming the most popular monarch for well over a century. He also shows us a talented and curious individual, committed to music, art, architecture and science, who took the duties of monarchy seriously, from reviewing death penalties to trying to control his often wayward children even as his own mental health failed, and became Britain''s longest reigning king.Trade ReviewThis volume forms part of the Penguin Monarchs series, an impressive collection of short biographies written by renowned historians ... Their aim is not simply to summarise, but to offer genuine insights in accessible format. Black's analysis of George III is a welcome addition. [He] ... manages to pepper his trim narrative with lovely frills. The mark of a good short book is its ability to inspire curiosity and further investigation. Black achieves just that. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *Black brilliantly demolishes the paranoiac Whig view of George as trying to accrete powers to himself unconstitutionally. The George who emerges is a far more attractive figure than the Whig historians depicted, let alone Thomas Jefferson with his 28 histrionic and inaccurate accusations against George in the Declaration of Independence, and especially Lin-Manuel Miranda's hilarious but profoundly historically incorrect caricature. -- Andrew Roberts * The Critic *

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Book SynopsisThe 17th century has been seen as a period of 'crisis' or transition from the pre-modern to the modern world. Jeremy Black explores this crucial period in world history from the perspective of war and military institutions. Genuinely global in range, the book engages with and challenges the idea of a 'military revolution'.Trade Review'This book mounts a heavy challenge to the Military Revolution hypothesis, as it has been traditionally stated, and it does so with clarity, accessibility and an intimidating breadth of knowledge.' - The English Historical Review 'He does what no other scholar I know of can do in presenting the full range of global military history.' Peter Lorge, Vanderbilt University, USA 'Jeremy Black has provided a concise statement of where we are as well as a very useful call for military historians, and not just those working on the seventeenth century, to engage with others to better understand the role of warfare and its relative significance compared to other imperatives in different societies.' - Richard Harding, University of Westminster, European Review of HistoryTable of ContentsIntroduction Sixteenth-Century Background Conflict, 1590-1615 Conflict, 1616-1650 Conflict, 1650-1683 The Expansion of Europe Conflict 1683-1707 Naval Capability and Warfare Warfare, Social Contexts and State Development Conclusions: Beyond the Military Revolution? Selected Further Reading.

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Book SynopsisJEREMY BLACK is Professor of History at the University of Exeter, UK.

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Book SynopsisKing of Britain for sixty years and the last king of what would become the United States, George III inspired both hatred and loyalty and is now best known for two reasons: as a villainous tyrant for America''s Founding Fathers, and for his madness, both of which have been portrayed on stage and screen.In this concise and penetrating biography, Jeremy Black turns away from the image-making and back to the archives, and instead locates George''s life within his age: as a king who faced the loss of key colonies, rebellion in Ireland, insurrection in London, constitutional crisis in Britain and an existential threat from Revolutionary France as part of modern Britain''s longest period of war.Black shows how George III rose to these challenges with fortitude and helped settle parliamentary monarchy as an effective governmental system, eventually becoming the most popular monarch for well over a century. He also shows us a talented and curious individual, committed to musTrade ReviewThis volume forms part of the Penguin Monarchs series, an impressive collection of short biographies written by renowned historians ... Their aim is not simply to summarise, but to offer genuine insights in accessible format. Black's analysis of George III is a welcome addition. [He] ... manages to pepper his trim narrative with lovely frills. The mark of a good short book is its ability to inspire curiosity and further investigation. Black achieves just that. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *Black brilliantly demolishes the paranoiac Whig view of George as trying to accrete powers to himself unconstitutionally. The George who emerges is a far more attractive figure than the Whig historians depicted, let alone Thomas Jefferson with his 28 histrionic and inaccurate accusations against George in the Declaration of Independence, and especially Lin-Manuel Miranda's hilarious but profoundly historically incorrect caricature. -- Andrew Roberts * The Critic *

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Book SynopsisTraces the competition for control of North America from the landing of Spanish troops under Hernan Cortes in modern Mexico in 1519 to 1871 when, with the Treaty of Washington and the withdrawal of most British garrisons, Britain accepted American mastery in North America.Trade ReviewThis fascinating book describes the 300-plus year history of North America, from the landing of the first Spanish explorers until 1871, when American businessmen and politicians finally succeeded in stretching the national border from the Atlantic to the Pacific with the completion of the transcontinental railroad. * Military Heritage *Table of ContentsPreface and AcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction1. Sixteenth-Century Background2. Creating New Frontiers, 1600-743. Britain, France and the Natives, 1674-17154. Multiple Currents, 1715-535. War for Dominance, 1754-646. Britain Triumphant to America Independent, 1765-767. Britain Defeated, 1775-838. Flexing Muscles, 1783-18119. Florida, But Not Canada: From the War of 1812 to the Monroe Doctrine, 1812-182310. Expansionism and its Problems, 1823-4311. From the Oregon Question to the Gadsden Purchase, 1844-5312. A Great Power in the Making? America, 1853-6113. America Divided, 1861-6314. Winning the War, 1863-515. Settling the North American Question, 1865-7116. Postscript, 1871-2010ConclusionsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBecause of the strengths of Clio's Battles, all working academics and graduate students in the discipline should read it. All practicing historians should take Black's views—and his warnings—seriously. * History: Reviews of New Books *Table of ContentsPreface1. Introduction: Academic, State, and Public Histories2. A Selective Narrative to 16503. The Long Eighteenth Century4. The Nineteenth Century5. The Twentieth Century6. New States and the Possibilities of Lineage 7. The Historical Dimension of Manifest Destiny8. Post-Communism and the New History9. Western Europe 10. Contesting the Past, Claiming the Future11. Historiographies of the Present12. Historiographies of the Future13. A Personal Note14. Conclusions NotesSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBecause of the strengths of Clio's Battles, all working academics and graduate students in the discipline should read it. All practicing historians should take Black's views—and his warnings—seriously. * History: Reviews of New Books *Table of ContentsPreface1. Introduction: Academic, State, and Public Histories2. A Selective Narrative to 16503. The Long Eighteenth Century4. The Nineteenth Century5. The Twentieth Century6. New States and the Possibilities of Lineage 7. The Historical Dimension of Manifest Destiny8. Post-Communism and the New History9. Western Europe 10. Contesting the Past, Claiming the Future11. Historiographies of the Present12. Historiographies of the Future13. A Personal Note14. Conclusions NotesSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOther Pasts, Different Presents, Alternative Futures will be of use to those teaching methods and sources to provoke reflection on individual teaching practice and as a tool for thinking more carefully about how we can appropriately use 'what if's' in our teaching. * History of Education *A sparkling defense of the legitimacy and utility of counterfactual history—of what ifs—and the best single work on its subject available. * Weekly Standard *Professor Black shows, in this intriguing book, exactly why the examination of different potential outcomes can aid historical understanding. He pinpoints how the expectation of events, even when unrealised, can determine human actions and affect perceptions of both past and future. Black demonstrates that, in skilful hands, counterfactual history is more than just fun; as one ingredient among many, it can be an extremely fertile source of explanation. * History Today *With a unique methodology, Black performs a what-if analysis of history to show how little it takes to change the world's fate. . .This book provokes thought and speculation while also entertaining. * Foreword Reviews *[Black's] illustrative examples of 'what if,' 'how,' and 'why' will make readers sit back and wonder. * Kirkus Reviews *This is the most robust defense of historical counterfactuals to date . . . For those interested in this fascinating subject, Black's book is indispensable. * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) *Table of ContentsPreface1. Introduction2. A Personal Note on Life and Times3. Types of History4. Power and the Struggle for Imperial Mastery5. The West and the Rest6. Britain and France, 1688-18157. Counterfactualism in Military History8. Into the Future9. Skepticism and the Historian10. Conclusions11. PostscriptSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisWhat if there had been no World War I or no Russian Revolution? What if Napoleon had won at Waterloo in 1815, or if Martin Luther had not nailed his complaints to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517, or if the South had won the American Civil War? The questioning of apparent certainties or known knowns can be fascinating and, indeed, What if? books are very popular. However, this speculative approach, known as counterfactualism, has had limited impact in academic histories, historiography, and the teaching of historical methods. In this book, Jeremy Black offers a short guide to the subject, one that is designed to argue its value as a tool for public and academe alike. Black focuses on the role of counterfactualism in demonstrating the part of contingency, and thus human agency, in history, and the salutary critique the approach offers to determinist accounts of past, present, and future.Trade ReviewOther Pasts, Different Presents, Alternative Futures will be of use to those teaching methods and sources to provoke reflection on individual teaching practice and as a tool for thinking more carefully about how we can appropriately use 'what if's' in our teaching. * History of Education *A sparkling defense of the legitimacy and utility of counterfactual history—of what ifs—and the best single work on its subject available. * Weekly Standard *Professor Black shows, in this intriguing book, exactly why the examination of different potential outcomes can aid historical understanding. He pinpoints how the expectation of events, even when unrealised, can determine human actions and affect perceptions of both past and future. Black demonstrates that, in skilful hands, counterfactual history is more than just fun; as one ingredient among many, it can be an extremely fertile source of explanation. * History Today *With a unique methodology, Black performs a what-if analysis of history to show how little it takes to change the world's fate. . .This book provokes thought and speculation while also entertaining. * Foreword Reviews *[Black's] illustrative examples of 'what if,' 'how,' and 'why' will make readers sit back and wonder. * Kirkus Reviews *This is the most robust defense of historical counterfactuals to date . . . For those interested in this fascinating subject, Black's book is indispensable. * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) *Table of ContentsPreface1. Introduction2. A Personal Note on Life and Times3. Types of History4. Power and the Struggle for Imperial Mastery5. The West and the Rest6. Britain and France, 1688-18157. Counterfactualism in Military History8. Into the Future9. Skepticism and the Historian10. Conclusions11. PostscriptSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSolidly grounded in many decades of historical and interdisciplinary readings, [Black] considers the complex relations between power and space, and their perception, from a plurality of angles, ranging from the history of international relations and cartography to diplomatic and military history, to that of science and technology, etc.Spring 2017 * Journal of Interdisciplinary History *The book is a must read for those involved in international relations, strategic studies, geography, political and economic history, as well as government and military leaders. It is a treasure trove of thought for academics, for scholars to debate and advance.3/30/17 * Military Review *In Geopolitics and the Quest for Dominance, Black provides a lively and thought-provoking account of the subject based on an almost unsurpassable range of reference and a strong commitment to communicating the richness of the field. * International History Review *Every scholar working within the broad field of geopolitics should read this book for two reasons. First, it is a well-written and detailed historical account of the ideas and practice of (mainly) state-centric geopolitics. Second, it is a direct attack on the axioms and methods of the dominant form of contemporary geopolitical analysis. * Journal of Historical Geography *Table of ContentsPrefaceAbbreviations1. Introduction2. Geopolitics before the Term: Spatiality and Frontiers3. Geopolitics before the Term: Maps4. Geopolitics of British Power 1500-1815: A Case Study5. Geography and Imperialism: The World in the Nineteenth Century6. Geopolitics and the Age of Imperialism, 1890-19327. Nazi Geopolitics and World War II, 1933-19458. Geopolitics and the Cold War9. Geopolitics Since 199010. The Geopolitics of the Future11. ConclusionsSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSolidly grounded in many decades of historical and interdisciplinary readings, [Black] considers the complex relations between power and space, and their perception, from a plurality of angles, ranging from the history of international relations and cartography to diplomatic and military history, to that of science and technology, etc.Spring 2017 * Journal of Interdisciplinary History *The book is a must read for those involved in international relations, strategic studies, geography, political and economic history, as well as government and military leaders. It is a treasure trove of thought for academics, for scholars to debate and advance.3/30/17 * Military Review *In Geopolitics and the Quest for Dominance, Black provides a lively and thought-provoking account of the subject based on an almost unsurpassable range of reference and a strong commitment to communicating the richness of the field. * International History Review *Every scholar working within the broad field of geopolitics should read this book for two reasons. First, it is a well-written and detailed historical account of the ideas and practice of (mainly) state-centric geopolitics. Second, it is a direct attack on the axioms and methods of the dominant form of contemporary geopolitical analysis. * Journal of Historical Geography *Table of ContentsPrefaceAbbreviations1. Introduction2. Geopolitics before the Term: Spatiality and Frontiers3. Geopolitics before the Term: Maps4. Geopolitics of British Power 1500-1815: A Case Study5. Geography and Imperialism: The World in the Nineteenth Century6. Geopolitics and the Age of Imperialism, 1890-19327. Nazi Geopolitics and World War II, 1933-19458. Geopolitics and the Cold War9. Geopolitics Since 199010. The Geopolitics of the Future11. ConclusionsSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHistoriographer Black generally attempts to avoid emotion, 'an abstraction that means smashing living babies' skulls against walls,' in writing about ultimately incomprehensible genocide. . . A compact and cogent academic account of the Holocaust. * Kirkus Reviews *Black has produced a balanced and precise work that is true to the scholarship, comprehensive yet not overwhelming, clearly written and beneficial for the expert and informed public alike. * Jewish Book Council * A demanding but important work. * Choice Reviews *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Until Barbarossa2. Towards Genocide3. Genocide4. Germany's Allies5. Memorialization6. The Holocaust and Today7. ConclusionsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHistoriographer Black generally attempts to avoid emotion, 'an abstraction that means smashing living babies' skulls against walls,' in writing about ultimately incomprehensible genocide. . . A compact and cogent academic account of the Holocaust. * Kirkus Reviews *Black has produced a balanced and precise work that is true to the scholarship, comprehensive yet not overwhelming, clearly written and beneficial for the expert and informed public alike. * Jewish Book Council * A demanding but important work. * Choice Reviews *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Until Barbarossa2. Towards Genocide3. Genocide4. Germany's Allies5. Memorialization6. The Holocaust and Today7. ConclusionsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Over the last fifty years, strategy and strategic culture have become embedded in the discourse of political scientists and historians of diplomacy and warfare. While the debate goes on, surprisingly little attention has been paid to how contemporaries in previous centuries carried out the functions that are now incorporated in these two powerful terms. Now Jeremy Black has provided a refreshing new look at how meanings behind these terms were understood and employed in the eighteenth century. With his vast knowledge and insights of the period, he is able to take us on a wide-ranging exploration that provides stimulating food for thought for historians of all periods." -Richard Harding, author of The Emergence of Britain's Global Naval Supremacy: The War of 1739-1748 "This is both an overview of eighteenth-century warfare and an interpretation of how war was made; a polemical contribution to a debate on the nature of strategy; and a contribution to global history." -Alan Forrest, author of Napoleon: Life, Legacy, and Image: A BiographyTable of ContentsPrefaceList of AbbreviationsIntroduction1. The Struggle for Power2. The Reach for World Empire: Britain, 1700-833. The Strategy of the Ancien Régime: France 1700-894. The Flow of Ideas5. The Strategy of Continental Empires6. The Strategy of the "Barbarians"7. The Rise of Republican Strategies, 1775-18008. Imperial Imaginings, 1783-18009. Conclusions10. Postscript: Strategy and Military HistorySelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Jeremy Black is a superlative guide to modern British history. He combines a wonderful narrative style with unimpeachable intellectual authority. if anyone wants to understand how our country has developed over the last seventy years there is no better volume than this." -Michael Gove, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom "Throughout this volume, Professor Black demonstrates an enviable ability to communicate the most complex events incisively and economically-whether analyzing the Northern Irish 'Troubles' in a few pages, or the Miners' Strike in a few paragraphs. With masterly command of detail, he builds a picture of change and continuity which makes the outcome of Britain's Brexit referendum much easier to comprehend." -Julian Lewis, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom, Chairman, House of Commons Defense CommitteeTable of ContentsPreface: From Empire to Where?Prime Ministers from 1945Abbreviations1. Environment under Strain2. Economy under Strain3. Changing Society4. Changing Culture5. The After-Echoes of War, 1945-606. The Politics of Crisis, 1961-797. Thatcherism, 1979-908. Changing Directions, 1990-20169. British Issues, 1945-201610. European and World Questions11. Into the Future12. ConclusionsSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is an engaging, wide-ranging, clearly written, well-informed book. . . . Recommended. * Choice *The breadth and depth of knowledge on display in this book are impressive. Black draws extensively on scholarship in other fields as diverse as cultural studies, landscape history, and cartography, as well as British history. * Historical Geography *Table of ContentsPrefaceList of Abbreviations1. Accumulating Knowledge2. The Spatial Matrix of Military and Political Power3. Territorialization and the Mapping of Authority4. The Public Sphere5. The Debate on Tourism, Religion, and Culture6. Responding to Novelty7. Responding to the Transoceanic World8. Responding to Coal and Commerce9. Geographies in Retrospect10. ConclusionsSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is an engaging, wide-ranging, clearly written, well-informed book. . . . Recommended. * Choice *The breadth and depth of knowledge on display in this book are impressive. Black draws extensively on scholarship in other fields as diverse as cultural studies, landscape history, and cartography, as well as British history. * Historical Geography *Table of ContentsPrefaceList of Abbreviations1. Accumulating Knowledge2. The Spatial Matrix of Military and Political Power3. Territorialization and the Mapping of Authority4. The Public Sphere5. The Debate on Tourism, Religion, and Culture6. Responding to Novelty7. Responding to the Transoceanic World8. Responding to Coal and Commerce9. Geographies in Retrospect10. ConclusionsSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewJeremy Black's Charting the Past is a useful book....For someone new to the field, wishing a guide through the immense thickets of historical writing and its assorted contexts, Black has provided a good start, and fodder for investigation of some of the more obscure writers he usefully brings to light. -- Daniel Woolf * H-Net.org *Charting the Past is an enjoyable and informative read that enriches an understanding of eighteenth-century England and serves as a useful primer for further study and research. * Journal of British Studies *Table of ContentsPrefaceList of Abbreviations1. The World of History2. Purposes, Narratives, Methods3. A Historical World of Partisan Strife: The Early Eighteenth Century 4. Contrasting Approaches: Burnet and Astell5. The Unstable Past: Dissenters and History6. History Suited to Mid-Century Struggle7. From the New Reign to the Crisis of Empire, 1760-17768. Empire as Historical Narrative: Gibbon and the Descent of Civilizations 9. History in the Age of BurkeConclusions: Bringing the Past into the PresentSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewJeremy Black's Charting the Past is a useful book....For someone new to the field, wishing a guide through the immense thickets of historical writing and its assorted contexts, Black has provided a good start, and fodder for investigation of some of the more obscure writers he usefully brings to light. -- Daniel Woolf * H-Net.org *Charting the Past is an enjoyable and informative read that enriches an understanding of eighteenth-century England and serves as a useful primer for further study and research. * Journal of British Studies *Table of ContentsPrefaceList of Abbreviations1. The World of History2. Purposes, Narratives, Methods3. A Historical World of Partisan Strife: The Early Eighteenth Century 4. Contrasting Approaches: Burnet and Astell5. The Unstable Past: Dissenters and History6. History Suited to Mid-Century Struggle7. From the New Reign to the Crisis of Empire, 1760-17768. Empire as Historical Narrative: Gibbon and the Descent of Civilizations 9. History in the Age of BurkeConclusions: Bringing the Past into the PresentSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe traces of the past are everywhere visible in the England of Jeremy Black's compendious new guide, England in the Age of Shakespeare. . . . Black attempts to capture a sense of early modern mentality: the average English person's worldview, the religious leanings of a multiply converted populace, the extent of the continuing faith in white and black magic. It is an inevitably fractured and overlapping picture, and Black is right to point out that the 'tensions and rift lines' visible in Elizabethan and Jacobean popular culture 'reflected the ambiguities and confusions of contemporary thought' (12–13). . . . This is a work of history not dramatic criticism, and . . . Black makes up for it with his richness of detail about the sights and sounds of early modern England. -- Will Tosh * Journal of British Studies *Table of ContentsPreface1. The Imagination of the Age2. The World of the Plays3. A Dynamic Country4. London 5. Narrating the Past: The History Plays6. The Narrative of Politics7. The Political Imagination8. Social Conditions, Structures, and Assumptions9. Health and Medicine10. Cultural Trends11. England and Europe12. The Wider World: Locating Prospero13. As We Like HimSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe traces of the past are everywhere visible in the England of Jeremy Black's compendious new guide, England in the Age of Shakespeare. . . . Black attempts to capture a sense of early modern mentality: the average English person's worldview, the religious leanings of a multiply converted populace, the extent of the continuing faith in white and black magic. It is an inevitably fractured and overlapping picture, and Black is right to point out that the 'tensions and rift lines' visible in Elizabethan and Jacobean popular culture 'reflected the ambiguities and confusions of contemporary thought' (12–13). . . . This is a work of history not dramatic criticism, and . . . Black makes up for it with his richness of detail about the sights and sounds of early modern England. -- Will Tosh * Journal of British Studies *Table of ContentsPreface1. The Imagination of the Age2. The World of the Plays3. A Dynamic Country4. London 5. Narrating the Past: The History Plays6. The Narrative of Politics7. The Political Imagination8. Social Conditions, Structures, and Assumptions9. Health and Medicine10. Cultural Trends11. England and Europe12. The Wider World: Locating Prospero13. As We Like HimSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book Synopsis-Examines the development and use of Tanks in war from their introduction in WWI through the present day. -Jeremy Black is one of the pre-eminent military historians writing today. -Black's narrative style should appeal to scholars and armchair generals alike.Trade ReviewBlack's text is far more than a mere chronological account of tank warfare. It is indeed much more. It is a critique to a sort of tank-centric approach of military culture, one that appeared after World War Two and has been in vogue for the whole duration of the Cold War, an approach which derives from a flawed use of military history. The book is also an overview of what tanks are today and, of course, what tanks should be tomorrow. -- Matteo Mazziotti di Celso * Nuova Antologia Militare *Tank Warfare is recommended for any student of land warfare in the twentieth century. The broad scope and inclusive efforts provide a starting point for detailed research, assisted by Black's chapter notes and selected reading. -- Brian North * H-Net War *Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgementsAbbreviations1. The Start2. The 1920s3. The 1930s4. The Second World War, I: Axis Advances5. The Second World War, II: The Allies Attack6. The Early Cold War, 1945–19677. The Late Cold War, 1968–19908. Since 19909. The FutureConclusionsSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewJeremy Black's new book on England in the Age of Austen, just published by Indiana University Press (2021), will be a treat for anyone who loves Jane - and who does not? - as well as anyone who is interested in her contexts. Black situates Austen's work in its social, political, economic and religious cultures, showing how her youthful commitments to Jacobite politics evolved into a more mature appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century England. Alert to the ironies of her own life and the lives of her characters, Austen wrote of the kind of world in which she wanted to live, balancing the disappointments of her own life and those of her characters with a dependency upon providence and an active commitment to preserve the best values of English society. -- Crawford Gribben * New Books Network *An absolute 'must' for the legions of Jan Austen fans, England in the Age of Austen is an extraordinarily well written history, impressively detailed, and a seminal work of original scholarship. * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsPrefaceAbbreviations1. The Rise of the Novel2. Rural England: The Epicenter of Austen's World3. Agriculture and Agricultural Change4. Families, Women and Men5. Faith and the Church6. Culture, the Arts, and Enlightenment7. London: The Capital of Empire8. Bath: The Capital of Leisure9. Transport and Industry10. A State at War11. The Romantic Landscape12. ConclusionsNotesSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewJeremy Black's new book on England in the Age of Austen, just published by Indiana University Press (2021), will be a treat for anyone who loves Jane - and who does not? - as well as anyone who is interested in her contexts. Black situates Austen's work in its social, political, economic and religious cultures, showing how her youthful commitments to Jacobite politics evolved into a more mature appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century England. Alert to the ironies of her own life and the lives of her characters, Austen wrote of the kind of world in which she wanted to live, balancing the disappointments of her own life and those of her characters with a dependency upon providence and an active commitment to preserve the best values of English society. -- Crawford Gribben * New Books Network *An absolute 'must' for the legions of Jan Austen fans, England in the Age of Austen is an extraordinarily well written history, impressively detailed, and a seminal work of original scholarship. * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsPrefaceAbbreviations1. The Rise of the Novel2. Rural England: The Epicenter of Austen's World3. Agriculture and Agricultural Change4. Families, Women and Men5. Faith and the Church6. Culture, the Arts, and Enlightenment7. London: The Capital of Empire8. Bath: The Capital of Leisure9. Transport and Industry10. A State at War11. The Romantic Landscape12. ConclusionsNotesSelected Further ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Why are things as they are? Why do things change? How and by whom should that process of change be explained? In A Brief History of History, one of the world's leading historians shows how globalizing perspectives are transforming the meaning of 'progress.' This powerfully argued account of historical thinking shows Jeremy Black at his spiky and brilliant best."—Crawford Gribben, Queen's University Belfast"In A Brief History of History, world leading historian Jeremy Black shares decades of research and thinking to show how the subject has developed and how it is written. Perceptive, insightful, and packed with ideas, it addresses the central problem of today's 'culture wars'. Above all, it shows with great clarity how interconnected human experience is; and how dangerous it is to undermine those connections. It is an essential guide for those concerned about misinformation and false truths today."—William Gibson, Oxford Brookes University"Understanding historical episodes and their importance requires looking at how historians presented them at different periods. Jeremy Black's deeply informed study introduces readers to that task by presenting historians influential during their own time and how they used the past to explain their own present. Instead of reading back current trends and debates, he brings history's different roles to the forefront in a guide of the genre's long tradition."—William Anthony Hay, Mississippi State University"A sense of the past is inherent to all cultures. But that sense is not only fragile, it is also prone to manipulation for political, ideological or cultural ends. A Brief History of History shows how thinking about the past evolved inside academia and, more importantly, outside it and what the future may hold. It deftly combines scholarship with contemporary observations, fizzing with ideas that stimulate and challenge many cherished notions about the study of history. It is the perfect book for our perplexing times."—T.G. Otte, University of East AngliaTable of Contents1. Introduction: The Controversy of History2. Origin Accounts and Sacred Time3. Printing and New Universal Histories4. Rejecting the Past5. New Pasts6. Contesting the Nations7. History in the Long Cold War, 1917-898. Methods for a Modern Age9. The Many Means of History10. Into the FutureSelected Further Reading

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Book SynopsisJeremy Black considers how the ocean affected British exploration, defence, trade, commerce and the role of the navy, as well as the attitudes and perceptions of the British people themselves.Trade Review“Black is refreshingly unapologetic about the British Empire and this book is a valuable contribution to the debate about its merits and demerits”—The Sunday Telegraph“A nuanced, well-researched history of the ways in which Britain’s maritime industry influenced its foreign policy and public culture. . . . The result is not only an important contribution to military history, but a reminder that we are all part of a long historical narrative.”—Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA thought-provoking analysis of how the acquisition and utilization of information has determined the course of history over the past five centuries and shaped the world as we know it today Information is power. For more than five hundred years the success or failure of nations has been determined by a country's ability to acquire knowledge and technical skill and transform them into strength and prosperity. Leading historian Jeremy Black approaches global history from a distinctive perspective, focusing on the relationship between information and society and demonstrating how the understanding and use of information have been the primary factors in the development and character of the modern age.Black suggests that the West's ascension was a direct result of its institutions and social practices for acquiring, employing, and retaining information and the technology that was ultimately produced. His cogent and well-reasoned analysis looks at cartography and the hardware of communicatio

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Book SynopsisAn engagingly accessible introduction to war, from ancient times to the present and into the futureTrade Review“Jeremy Black’s extraordinary body of work regularly returns to themes in military history. . . . His latest book distills his achievements as the most prolific historian in the English language into 40 short chapters that describe war from the ancient world to the present day. . . . A Short History of War offers an expansive and often evocative account of great causes that are never lost or won.”—Crawford Gribben, Wall Street Journal“This is a feat of remarkable compression and erudition...Studded with thought-provoking comparisons and insights and offers a handy introduction to the subject, and to Black’s oeuvre.”—Jonathan Boff, Spectator “Black has demonstrated an enormous capacity for the length, breadth and depth of global military history which will prompt readers to explore further into campaigns they know little about.”—Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, Aspects of History“This book should be a ‘must read’ for people entering into a study of military history. It will also be a valuable resource for those who already have some broader knowledge in the field or are already possessed of some expertise. This is a book well worth reading more than once, keeping as a reference, and as a start-point for future study.”—Rob Ellis, Royal United Services Institute of Victoria ‘Jeremy Black has somehow managed to condense a vast and complex subject into a very compact and compelling book. His global range, avoidance of repetition of the standard topics, and ability to capture the variety of warfare in all its forms throughout history is truly remarkable.’—Professor Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny ‘This is an excellent overview of the history of war. Highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to understand the evolution of war around the globe from prehistory to the present day.’—Professor Heather Jones, University College London‘This is a truly global survey which amounts to a miracle of compression. Indispensable for students and scholars alike.’— Professor Gary Sheffield, University of Wolverhampton

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