Böcker i European History in Perspective-serien

By turns radical, uncertain, ambitious and autocratic, Mikhail Gorbachev and his bid to reform the Soviet Union have shaped the contemporary world. Drawing on the latest memoirs and scholarship, this book follows Gorbachev's increasingly desperate attempts to control the forces he unleashed and hold together a state whose days were over.

This book provides a concise study of the defining aspects of the reign of Louis XIV. The nature of French monarchy, methods of government, Louis's relationship to his subjects and to the churches, the organisation of cultural life, and France's relations with the rest of Europe are all considered.

This is a study of the reasons for two long periods of peace between the European great powers, 1815-54 and 1871-1914, and the reasons for their breakdown. Special attention is paid to the limitations of the Concert of Europe and Balance of Power in making for peace.