Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945

Book Overview: Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945

Judt’s book, Ill Fares the Land, republished in 2021 featuring a new preface by bestselling author of Between the World and Me and The Water Dancer, Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize – Winner of the Council on Foreign Relations Arthur Ross Book Award – One of the New York Times‘ Ten Best Books of the Year

“Impressive . . . Mr. Judt writes with enormous authority.” –The Wall Street Journal

“Magisterial . . . It is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive, authoritative, and yes, readable postwar history.” –The Boston Globe

Almost a decade in the making, this much-anticipated grand history of postwar Europe from one of the world’s most esteemed historians and intellectuals is a singular achievement. Postwar is the first modern history that covers all of Europe, both east and west, drawing on research in six languages to sweep readers through thirty-four nations and sixty years of political and cultural change-all in one integrated, enthralling narrative. Both intellectually ambitious and compelling to read, thrilling in its scope and delightful in its small details, Postwar is a rare joy.

ISBN-13	9780143037750
ISBN-10	0143037757
Publisher	Penguin Books
Publication Date	2006-09-05
Edition	Reprint
Language	en
Pages	960
Dimensions	in x in x in
Weight	lbs

Editorial Reviews

“Judt’s massive, learned, brilliantly detailed account of Europe’s recovery from the wreckage of World War II presents a whole continent in panorama even as it sets off detonations on almost every page.” — The New York Times Book Review

“Remarkable . . . The writing is vivid; the coverage-of little countries as well as of great ones-is virtually superhuman; and above all, the book is smart. Every page contains unexpected data, or a fresh observation, or a familar observation freshly turned.” — Louis Menand, The New Yorker

“Impressive . . . Mr. Judt writes with enormous authority.” — The Wall Street Journal

“Magisterial . . . It is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive, authoritative, and yes, readable postwar history.” — The Boston Globe

“Brave and remakable.” — The Washington Post

“Brilliant . . . A book that has the pace of a thriller and the scope of an encyclopedia . . . A very considerable achievement.” — The New York Review of Books

“Not likely to be surpassed for many years. . . . This is history writing at its best.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

About the Author

Tony Judt

Tony Judt was an eminent historian, essayist, and professor, globally renowned for his profound insights into post-war Europe and global intellectual history. Born in England in 1948, Judt’s work rigorously explored varied topics ranging from social democracy to the role of the intellectuals in politics. He displayed exemplary intellectual acumen combined with courageous truth-telling, manifested in his diverse contributions to the repository of public knowledge.

Judt gained his education at the University of Cambridge and École Normale Supérieure, Paris. His academic career spanned teaching positions at several prestigious institutions including Cambridge, Oxford, UC Berkeley, and New York University where he held the Erich Maria Remarque Professorship. As a dedicated professor, he was recognized for his thought-provoking teachings and ability to present complex historical context in an engaging manner.

Alongside his successful academia career, Judt was a prolific author and contributor known for his landmark books like “Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945” and “Ill Fares The Land”. His works were characterized by a keen understanding of the interplay between history, politics, and society. Judt’s powerful gift of exposition and fierce intellectual integrity marked him out as a leading historian, commentator, and critic of our times. Despite his untimely death to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2010, his works continue to resonate and inspire a broad readership worldwide, securing his legacy as an influential powerhouse in the realm of intellectual history.