A General History of the World: Two Volumes

Writing a world history that is engaging, easy to read, and easy to understand, without routinely running to millions of words, is no easy task. Yet in A Short History of the World, Wells succeeds admirably at what seems an impossible feat. The book spans from the dawn of human civilization to the Second World War, presenting in orderly fashion the rises and falls of ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, Christian society, the Islamic world, and major powers such as Britain, France, and the United States. The wealth of knowledge and breadth of perspective offered by A Short History of the World are every bit the equal of any monumental historical work.