Vanished Kingdoms, The History Of Half-Forgotten Europe (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
I tend to read books fairly quickly, so if it isn't a deep science book and it takes me ca. 3 months to finish, this is an indicator, that I didn't find the book a hugely interesting read.I like detailed histories about people and nations and this one was about parts of history you generally don't read about. I'm familiar with European History, but as this book shows well, you only hear from the victors and a little bit of the vanquished. This book takes a close look at nations that have ceased to exist from Burgundy over Prussia and Saxe-Coburg to the Soviet Union. I read much with interest up to around the late 19th century, although I personally don't care too much about how the corresponding city or region looks like now and therefore tended to fight through those parts of it. The problem I have with the book (aside from the I don't care for this part passages) is that he failed to bind all the stories together and they stand next to each other. The last chapter reveals the guiding thoughts in selection and portrayal in a rambling sort of way, but this never comes out in the chapters before. This is also why some chapters seem to go nowhere.Conclusion: all in all a good read from the other side of history and therefore worth reading, but at times a bit rambling. 'Vanished Kingdoms' is an absolutely fascinating journey through European history from the Dark Ages to the modern day, but the book takes takes the scenic route rather than the more conventional road. Most European history is the story of the countries that now make up the map, treating those as the end point of our history and going backwards to see where they came from, but Davies tells the story of those European states that didn't make it and that have vanished from the map. By doing so he manages to give us a narrative of how states form, grow, decline and fall, giving a new perspective on how the current map of Europe is not an end point but merely a snapshot. The book sheds light on some forgotten aspects of history, like the Kingdom of the Visigoths, the various entities known as Burgundy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and in doing so illuminates some aspects of current European politics, like the moves towards self determination in Catalonia, the Scottish Referendum on independence, and situation of Belarus and Ukraine. In fact, for a book that starts out in the Dark Ages and focusses on Dukes, Kings and Queens it has a surprising amount to say about modern Europe. 'Vanished Kingdoms' is discursive and anecdotal, which I enjoyed but which may be off-putting for those who prefer their history more linear. Some chapters are more interesting than others, and some of the later chapters start to push the self-defined boundaries of the book, describing states which are more ex-kingdoms. Overall though it is one of the most interesting books on European history which I've encountered and is well worth a read.
What do You think about Vanished Kingdoms, The History Of Half-Forgotten Europe (2000)?
Not the book's fault - I'm just not that interested in all of the kingdoms he chose to spotlight
—Tim
Tedious curmudgeonry and hamfisted structure not redeemed by the odd illuminating chapter.
—marshajo
Very readable history of former European kingdoms.
—Anto07
