The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Europe, Volume 2: 1870 to the Present

This is an example of the "Cambridge history" approach at its best. The 140 years between 1870 and 2010 is broken into three periods: those of globalization (1870-1913), the world wars and their aftermath (1914-1950), and post-war (1951- ). Within each period noted experts present a series of topical treatments, which are tied together well, with considerable cross-referencing. The positions taken are well supported and clearly presented, and extensively cross-referenced. The result is quite coherent and readable, but the articles are sufficiently self-contained to permit selective reference. A great deal of valuable data is presented in tabular form.While there are certainly some topics in economic history for which a national or regional perspective serves well, this volume makes clear just how much there is to be gained analytically from a transnational comparative perspective. Every article is ripe in insights that would be unlikely to emerge from a narrower view. One certainly need not be a committed European to find a great deal of value here. This is of course no more than one would expect from these editors and authors.This book is very worth the money. Before receiving a print edition I tried the Kindle, which I found quite satisfactory for most purposes. The tables are a bit small, but readable nonetheless, and the cross-referencing features of the electronic medium are put to effective use.