Had eric hobsbawm died 25 years ago, the obituaries would have described him as britains most distinguished marxist historian and would have left it. Before retirement he taught at birkbeck college, university of london, and after retirement at the new school for social research in new york. A history of the world, 19141991 by eric hobsbawm 4. The 20th century is marked by 4 extremely important events. For this purpose, you couldnt ask for a better guide. About the author born in 1917, eric hobsbawm was educated in austria, germany, and england. The sciences reason and society towards revolution from peace to war epilogue tables maps notes further reading index ix xiii i 3 34 56. The first edition of the novel was published in 1994, and was written by eric hobsbawm. Mar 08, 2016 hobsbawm then explains the importance of the technological revolution in powering the golden age era before and after both the world wars. He is usually labeled a marxist historian, but from reading his tetralogy, of which this is the final volume, i see him more as a. These changes are identified as the decline of european dominance over the globe, the. Buy age of extremes the short twentieth century, 19141991 new ed by hobsbawm, eric isbn. But it also constitutes a massive failure to come to terms with the central phenomenon it deals with. I doubt that we shall get a more penetrating and politically valuable account.
Hobsbawm starts by addressing the contradiction between the popular view in the late 1880s that trade was contracting and economic growth was slowing and the contemporary view that production and trade were in fact growing in that period. Oct 01, 2003 the age of extremes is eminent historian eric hobsbawm s personal vision of the twentieth century. This is hobsbawms understanding of marx and marxism and its relevance to his approach to social. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 672 pages and is available in paperback format. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. In the age of revolution 1962 hobsbawm is combatively orthodox. This is a work of great insight coupled with extraordinary blindness. Celebrated historian professor eric hobsbawm talks to michael ignatieff about his book age of extremes. Eric john ernest hobsbawm british historian britannica. Part of eric hobsbawms epic fourvolume history of the modern world, along with the age of capitalism, the age of empire, and the age of extremes. Eric hobsbawm history and understanding the past 2000. Previous books include age of extremes, the age of revolution and the age of empire. Hobsbawm is an engaging and informative writer and filled the criteria perfectly.
There is so much that provokes thought in his work, and his command of language is masterful. Rather than writing the history of the period bracketed by the outbreak of world war i and the collapse of the soviet union, the age of extremes undertakes to explain the causes for the three major changes that have taken place in the authors lifetime. Oct 01, 2012 had eric hobsbawm died 25 years ago, the obituaries would have described him as britains most distinguished marxist historian and would have left it more or less there. The eminent historian eric hobsbawms book the new century came out when. He says that there are three striking characters about that technological revolution. The age of extremes, 1994, traduction francaise, coedition le monde. The age of extremes 1994, which was translated into 37 languages, extended hobsbawms range into the short 20th century almost spanned. Hobsbawm is a wellknown marxist, but it was the events of this age that spawned marxism, and it behooves us to understand why that was.
Dividing the century into the age of catastrophe, 19141950, the golden age, 19501973, and the landslide, 19731991, hobsbawm marshals a vast array of data into a volume of unparalleled inclusiveness, vibrancy, and insight, a work that ranks with his classics the age of empire and the age of revolution. A braudel for the modern worlda masterful recreation of the years that formed our centuryby englands leading social historian. Unfortunately, hobsbawm is a moderately difficult read. The english language of rock lyrics was often not even translated. It transformed everyday life in both rich and poor countries, albeit to a less extent. Eric hobsbawm was a fellow of the british academy and the american academy of arts and sciences. Full text of eric hobsbawm age of extremes 1914 1991 see other formats. Mar 01, 2016 hobsbawm starts by addressing the contradiction between the popular view in the late 1880s that trade was contracting and economic growth was slowing and the contemporary view that production and trade were in fact growing in that period. Age of extremes the short twentieth century, 19141991. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The age of total war taken from part one of the book the age of extremes by eric hobsbawm is a discussion of how the concept of war has changed with the turn of the twentieth century. Books by eric hobsbawm author of the age of extremes.
In this masterful and highly accessible study of our times, one of the worlds leading historians sheds exciting new light on our understanding of the twentieth century, with incisive assessments of. The age of extremes is eminent historian eric hobsbawms personal vision of the twentieth century. Jan 03, 2012 the libcom library contains nearly 20,000 articles. A history of the world, 19141991 pdf epub modern history series book. Feb 21, 2012 the age of total war taken from part one of the book the age of extremes by eric hobsbawm is a discussion of how the concept of war has changed with the turn of the twentieth century. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. In particular, his vast series the age of revolution, the age of capital, the age of empire and then age of extremes are some of the most comprehensive contributions to marxist historiography. Europe 17891848, and followed in 1975 and 1987 respectively with the age of capital, 18481875 and the age of empire, 18751914.
Full text of eric hobsbawm age of extremes 1914 1991. Nations and nationalism whos who or the uncertainties of the bourgeoisie the new woman the arts transformed certainties undermined. After reading age of extremes, kremlinologist robert conquest concluded that hobsbawm suffers from a massive reality denial regarding the ussr, and john gray, though praising his work on the nineteenth century, has described hobsbawm s writings on the post1914 period as banal in the extreme. Read age of empire 18751914 by eric hobsbawm available from rakuten. The age of extremes, which covers most of 20th century american and european international politics, is a good read for any one interested in knowing at an intermediate level why things happened the way they did in eurous politics. The age of extremes forms a sequel to that trilogy, charting the course of what hobsbawm has labeled the short twentieth century extending from the outbreak of world war i and the ensuing demise of europe through the end of the cold wara history, not incidentally, of hobsbawms own time. Dec 16, 2010 eric hobsbawm was a fellow of the british academy and the american academy of arts and sciences. Hobsbawm is a provocative guide to the short twentieth century. He begins the chapter with quotes detailing the casualties and senselessness of war. Eric hobsbawm has produced a superb overview of the middle threequarters of the 20th century. In brief summary, hobsbawms age of series is a must read for any history enthusiast. As a history it reflects the authors great erudition and is impressive in the scope of the material that it masters. The short 20th century and a memoir, interesting times. His many books include a threepart study of the long 19th century the age of revolution, the age of capital and the age of empire, age of extremes.
Age of extremes w also by eric hobsbawm the age of revolution 17891848. Dividing the century into the age of catastrophe, 19141950, the golden age, 19501973, and the landslide, 19731991, hobsbawm marshals a vast array of data into a volume of unparalleled inclusiveness, vibrancy, and insight, a work that ranks with his. The age of extremes is eminent historian eric hobsbawm s personal vision of the twentieth century. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Eric hobsbawm, eminent historian and author of the new century.
It is the third in a trilogy of books about the long 19th century, preceded by the age of. Hobsbawm then explains the importance of the technological revolution in powering the golden age era before and after both the world wars. Hobsbawm age of extremes 1995 from politics 110 at middle east technical university. Part of eric hobsbawm s epic fourvolume history of the modern world, along with the age of capitalism, the age of empire, and the age of extremes. The late show eric hobsbawm age of extremes youtube. World wars, the cold war, and the fall of berlin wall. The age of extremes forms a sequel to that trilogy, charting the course of what hobsbawm has labeled the short twentieth century extending from the outbreak of world war i and the ensuing demise of europe through the end of the cold wara history, not incidentally, of hobsbawm s own time. Here he turns his attention to what he terms the short 20th century 19141991, which. The libcom library contains nearly 20,000 articles. A history of the world, 19141991 hobsbawm, eric on.
The eminent historian eric hobsbawm s book the new century came out when the 21st century was but a few months old. The late show eric hobsbawm age of extremes 24 october 1994. The making of the modern world 4 volume set consisting of. The age of empire the politics of democracy workers of the world waving flags. British historian hobsbawm is most noted for his threevolume history of the long 19th century 17891914. The short twentieth century, 19141991 is a book by eric hobsbawm. The short twentieth century, 19141991 is a book by eric hobsbawm, published in 1994. In it, hobsbawm comments on what he sees as the disastrous failures of state socialism, capitalism, and nationalism. Age of extremes the short by hobsbawm, first edition abebooks. After reading age of extremes, kremlinologist robert conquest concluded that hobsbawm suffers from a massive reality denial regarding the ussr, and john gray, though praising his work on the nineteenth century, has described hobsbawms writings on the post1914 period as banal in the extreme. Age of extremes is broadly chronological, but does not offer a narrative of events, instead tackling broad themes in nineteen largely selfcontained chapters.
If its your first time on the site, or youre looking for something specific, it can be difficult to know where to start. A history of the world, 19141991 by eric hobsbawm pantheon, 627 pp. Eric hobsbawm, who died on 1 october 2012 at the age of 95, was one of the foremost historians of the 20th century. The late show special eric hobsbawm age of extremes duration. The short twentieth century by hobsbawm, eric and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A history of the world, 19141991 01 by hobsbawm, eric isbn. I feel as though i have gone on rather a lot about the content and controversy of extremes in particular, yet there is so much more i could write. Lhistorien britannique tony judt propose une autre analyse. Age of extremes the short twentieth century, 1914 1991 eric hobsbawm the text i have chosen to analyse for this essay is eric hobsbawms historical epic age of extremes the short twentieth century 1914 1991. A powerful and unsettling book, eric hobsbawms age of extremes brings to a close the series of historical studies he began in 1962 with the age of revolution. Here he turns his attention to what he terms the short 20th.
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