BOOKS: History of the Modern World

R. R. Palmer (1909-2002)

Context is important. If you want to put things into context you must read, R.R. Palmer's, "History of the Modern World." This is the book__ the one to read__it is the most highly praised modern history text ever written. It has been used in thousands of universities and translated into six languages. Palmer's book, first published in 1950 and now in its ninth edition, is a grand sweeping narrative covering the middle ages up until the end of the 20th century. The storyline takes the reader from the demise of the Roman empire through the rise of Christianity up to the down fall of the Berlin Wall. However, it is not just the comprehensiveness that makes Palmer's book worth reading, other books have covered the same material__Palmer's is more erudite than most historical specialists and he is better able to explain the context in which the modern world emerged. In this way he is very much like the great 20th century historian, Christopher Dawson, who also had broad historical knowledge and was able to contextualize European history. Palmer introduces his book this way: "It may seem strange for the history of the modern world to begin with the middle ages...but what is most now meant by "modern" made its first appearance in Europe and to understand modern Europe it is necessary to reach fairly far back in time." And that he does and the reader can follow the genesis and causes of many of the political and economic problems that still plague the modern world. There is also an elegance and continuity to his prose not found in many standard history textbooks that are often written by committees. Very few books can be recommended to be the first and last to read on a topic__this is one.