This is a fine little book, and despite it's small size, it comes packed with information. I sought it out after becoming fed up with all of my history texts having poor maps, or even no maps at all. The maps in this are clear and helpful, and the accompanying narrative, while *very* concise (we're talking centuries in a paragraph, at times), is also helpful. The narrative is macro history at its best, enough to give you a general idea of what was going on.

I'd recommend this for any history buff. ( )

An excellent reference for students of history. ( )

Classic reference works repackaged, these two volumes are indespensable for any historian or reader who wants to know when and where things are going on. The accompanying text is sparse and unadorned, but helpful, perhaps suffering from their "Germanness." ( )