Roberts' insight in to the shifting sands of European affairs is both concise and well argued. Structured argument and an interesting critique is inherent throughout, whilst evidence of a resounding depth of knowledge is ever present. A period, dogged by war, colonialism, and the emergence of powerful nation states is portrayed with resounding historical passion. A reader from Edinburgh, Amazon.co.uk

• 1. What this Book is About 2. Europe in 1880 3. The Ancien Regime 4. International Competition 1880-1901 5. Before 1914: Constitutional States 6. Autocracy and Conservatism 7. Anti-traditional Forces 8. International Relations 1901-1914 9. The Great War 10. Postwar Europe 11. Economy and Society 1918-1939 12. Democratic Europe 13. Totalitarianism and Dictatorship 14. Social and Cultural Change 16. The Approach to the Second World War 17. Europe and the Second World War 18. Beyond this Book: Reading Further. Appendix. Some problems. Aids to study.