Jeremy Black

An engaging, accessible introduction to war, from ancient times to the present and into the future “Forty short chapters . . . describe war from the ancient world to the present day. . . . A Short History of War offers an expansive and often evocative account of great causes that are never lost or won.”—Crawford Gribben, Wall Street Journal...

A global account of military strategy, which examines the practices, rather than the theories, of the most significant military figures of the past 400 years Military Strategy has existed as long as there has been organised conflict. In this ground-breaking account, Jeremy Black explores the ever-changing relationship between purpose, force, implementation, and effectiveness in military strategy and its dramatic impact...

The next in this series of admirably concise yet nevertheless comprehensive titles looks at the history of all Americans as well as America; its environmental history and its linkage to economic history; the political shaping of America; and America in the world, from being a colony to post-Cold War America. Black examines the environmental history of America and its linkage...

As the United Kingdom left the European Union, during a period of international and domestic turmoil, London found itself at a turning point. This critical moment presents an opportunity to look back, with a distinctive perspective, focusing on London in its national and, perhaps even more importantly, its international contexts, rather than on the city itself in isolation. It is...

The British monarchy is at a turning point. Concise and engaging, A Brief History of the British Monarchy charts the very beginnings of British reign through to the longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and looks forward to the reign of King Charles III. Much more than a linear history, this is the intertwined story of royalty and state, of...

A concise history of the Caribbean's long and fascinating history, from pre-contact civilisations to the present day This is a concise history, intended for travellers, but of inestimable value to anyone looking for an overview of the Caribbean and its mainland coastal states, with a focus on the past few centuries. The history of the Caribbean does not make much...

This brilliantly concise history of the Pacific Ocean succeeds in examining both the indigenous presence on the ocean's islands and Western control or influence over its islands and shores. There is a particular focus on the period from the 1530s to 1890, with a greater Western coastal and oceanic presence in the Pacific, beginning with the Spanish takeover of the...

A concise history of France from prehistory to the present, recounting the great events and personalities and exploring France's cultural and political influence today. Artists, martyrs, kings, revolutionaries: France's sense of national identity is inextricably linked to its dramatic history, which fascinates the world and attracts millions each year to visit its chateaux and cathedrals, boulevards and vineyards. Ancient roots...

A concise history of Paris and the great events and personalities, from prehistory to the present, that have shaped its unique cultural legacy. Once described as 'that metropolis of dress and debauchery' by the Scottish poet David Mallet, then as now Paris had a reputation for a peculiar joie de vivre. From style to sex, cookery to couture, it captivates...

From the Great Exhibition's showcasing of British national achievement in 1851 to the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Stratford in 2012 and on to Brexit, an insightful exploration of the transformation of modern Britain. This revised and updated fourth and final volume in the concise Brief History of Britain series begins in the specially-constructed Crystal Palace, three times the...

The history of Germany is intricately woven, threaded in time through its struggles and triumphs with religion, industrialisation, enlightenment, politics, unification, and war. In A Brief History of Germany, Jeremy Black questions how the Germany we know today came to be, chronicling the events that shaped its past, present and future in a fascinating new way. From the fall of...

A wonderfully concise and readable, yet comprehensive, history of the Mediterranean Sea, the perfect companion for any visitor — or indeed, anyone compelled to stay at home. "The grand object of travelling is to see the shores of the Mediterranean." Samuel Johnson, 1776 The Mediterranean has always been a leading stage for world history; it is also visited each year...

In A History of Britain in 100 Maps, Jeremy Black takes readers deep into the unparalleled collections of the British Library Map Room to tell a new story of the British Isles through acknowledged treasures and previously undiscovered and unpublished items. Presenting in detail 100 important maps, Black explores major themes in British history, from settlement, environmental change, state formation,...

Continuing the thematic strand of the successful and proven British Library '100 Maps' series, this new volume traces the fully international history of railways from their beginnings in the north-west of England through to the inter-continental lines of today. Arranged chronologically, and with some 140 newly photographed maps and ephemera from the British Library's cartographic holdings, A History of Railways...

Whilst the First World War had seen an exceptional growth in the use and production of military cartography, the global conflict that followed employed maps, charts, reconnaissance, radar, sonar, and the systematic recording and processing of geographical and topographical information on an unprecedented scale. It is impossible to understand the events and outcomes of the Second World War without deep...

A concise history of Paris and the great events and personalities, from prehistory to the present, that have shaped its unique cultural legacy. Paris has long been celebrated as a place of style, wit, and sensuality. In this deft and broad-ranging narrative, Jeremy Black demonstrates that the history of Paris is about more than a city: it is the history...

The wars between 1792 and 1815 saw the making of the modern world, with Britain and Russia the key powers to emerge triumphant from a long period of bitter conflict. In this innovative book, The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, Jeremy Black focuses on the strategic contexts and strategies involved, explaining their significance both at the time and subsequently. Reinterpreting...

Despite being relatively brief, this very readable history covers environmental, political, social, economic, cultural, and artistic elements, and is very open to regional variations and to the extent that the history of the peninsula and of its political groupings was far from inevitable. Its tone is accessible, supported by boxes providing supplemental information, and is perfect for travellers to Spain....

Fans of Sherlock Holmes will delight to investigate Victorian England, a world where crimes large and small abound, and where dark corners and well-lit drawing rooms alike hide villainy. Through the enduring eye of Sherlock Holmes, noted historian Jeremy Black traces how Holmes and his milieu evolved in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books and how Holmes continues to resonate today....

Jeremy Black skilfully sketches social, cultural and political trends - Christina Hardyment, Times audiobook of the week A remarkable mixture of cold history, wide culture and personal experience - Ciro Paoletti, Secretary General of the Italian Commission of Military History Despite the Roman Empire's famous 500-year reign over Europe, parts of Africa and the Middle East, Italy does not have...

Strategy and the Second World War by Jeremy Black offers a concise, accessible account of strategy during the Second World War. It explores how the war was both won and lost. In 1941, the Second World War expanded into a global conflict when Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, and Germany declared...

The Atlantic has borne witness to major historic events that have drastically shaped humanity with each crossing of its path. In this broad and readable book, A Brief History of the Atlantic, Jeremy Black takes the reader through its evolution to becoming one of the most important oceans in the world. Black discusses the importance of the Atlantic in relation...

This best-selling guide will help you get to grips with the larger themes and issues behind historical study, while also showing you how to formulate your own ideas in a clear, analytical style. Fully updated throughout, further advice on using web-based sources and avoiding plagiarism will equip you with the tools you need to succeed on your course. Studying History...

A Brief History of Portugal by Jeremy Black is a comprehensive history that traces the evolution of Portugal from the Stone Age to the present day. The book begins with an introduction that discusses geographical and climatic influences before delving into Portugal's prehistory and classical era, spanning from the Stone Age to the end of the Roman era. The narrative...

Acclaimed British historian examines the layers of craft and insight in Tobias Smollett, and discusses the particular nature of his genius and influence on British culture. Once again, Black acquaints the reader with the full range of a prolific writer's works and offers a backstage tour of the meaning and context of Britain's most beloved stories and story-tellers. Smollett's Britain...

In the second volume of The Weight of Words Series, Jeremy Black continues his efforts to present and preserve Britain's literary genius. Its intelligence and enduring influence is in large part reliant on the underlining conservatism that has motivated authors such as Agatha Christie (Black's earlier subject) and Henry Fielding alike. Fielding's epic comic novel, Tom Jones, is unforgettable for...

Written by the renowned British historian who has been described as both utterly thorough and humanely delicate, Jeremy Black offers a guided tour through the mind of Agatha Christie and life during the Great World Wars. His incomparable treatment of literary craft developing alongside global military engagement nearly overshadows the natural draw of the crime drama that is the subject...

Written by the renowned British historian who has been described as both utterly thorough and humanely delicate, Jeremy Black offers a guided tour through the mind of Agatha Christie and life during the Great World Wars. His incomparable treatment of literary craft developing alongside global military engagement nearly overshadows the natural draw of the crime drama that is the subject...

Military historian Jeremy Black continues his review of the global context of martial conflict and spatial conquest into the modern era (16th–20th centuries), focusing on the British empire and its lasting effect on this landscape. Black offers a representation of the "imperial experience" that is eye-opening for a generation of readers who associate this with a strictly negative connotation. But...

Introduction to Global Military History provides a lucid and comprehensive account of military developments around the modern world from the eighteenth century up to the present day. Beginning with the background to the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary wars and ending with the recent conflicts of the twenty-first century, this third edition combines fully up-to-date global coverage...

Introduction to Global Military History provides a lucid and comprehensive account of military developments around the modern world from the eighteenth century up to the present day. Beginning with the background to the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary wars and ending with the recent conflicts of the twenty-first century, this third edition combines fully up-to-date global coverage...

Military historian Jeremy Black follows his engagement with the American Civil War (St. Augustine's Press, 2025) with a review of the Revolutionary War in North America and the strategic asymmetry it presents. This was a key episode for global affairs and formative for the United States, but also fascinating for military history as a whole. Black's earlier treatment of this...

The American Civil War may have been more consequential to American history (and its global supremacy) than its Revolutionary War and participation in all other world wars. The influence of this war is not just reduced to the victory of the north and its economic infrastructure, but the fact of Union success ushered in the notion of 'what it means...