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Vanished Kingdoms

The History of Half-Forgotten Europe
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( 3,325 ratings, 387 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Vanished Kingdoms by Norman Davies explores the history of Europe through the lens of various states and kingdoms that once existed but have since disappeared. The book delves into the rise and fall of these political entities, examining the factors that led to their decline and how their legacies continue to impact the present. It provides a fascinating narrative of forgotten realms, revealing the transient nature of power and identity in European history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have a fascination with history's forgotten places and stories. It offers a captivating journey through Europe's vanished political entities, exploring how they came to be and why they disappeared. It's perfect for those who appreciate a blend of historical narrative and insightful analysis.

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Europe's history is littered with kingdoms, duchies, empires and republics which have now disappeared but which were once fixtures on the map of their age. What happened to the once-great Mediterranean Empire of Aragon? This title lets you discover the stories of lost realms across the centuries.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A magical and acclaimed history, bringing back to life the lost realms of Europe, now in trade paperback.

We habitually think of the European past as the history of countries which exist today, but Europe's history is littered with kingdoms, duchies, empires, and republics that have now disappeared but were once fixtures on the map of their age. Consider the Empire of Aragon, which once dominated the western Mediterranean, or the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, for a time the largest country in Europe. The successive kingdoms (and one duchy) of Burgundy represent much of whose history is now half-rememberedβ€”or half-forgottenβ€”at best.

How many British people know that Glasgow was founded by the Welsh in a period when neither England nor Scotland existed? How many of us will remember the former Soviet Union in a few generations' time? Will our own United Kingdom become a distant memory too? As in his earlier celebrated books Europe: A History and The Isles, Norman Davies aims to subvert our established view of what seems familiar and urges us to look and think again.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Vanished Kingdoms by Norman Davies is highly praised for its ambitious examination of the lost kingdoms of Europe, deftly charting their rise and fall. Critics highlight Davies's literary talent and imaginative empathy, noting his success in tackling such a challenging narrative. The book is commended for rekindling interest in forgotten places, revealing stunning historical insights and intriguing anecdotes that appeal to both general readers and history enthusiasts.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141048864

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 October 2012

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 624g

Pages: 848

About the Author

Norman Davies is the author of the No 1 best-seller Europe: a History (1996), Microcosm: Portrait of a European City (with Roger Moorhouse) and Rising '44: the Battle for Warsaw (date). From 1997-2006 he was Supernumerary Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford; he is now Professor at the Jagiellonian University at Cracow, an Honorary Fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford and a life member of Clare Hall and Peterhouse, Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, and lives in Oxford and Cracow.

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