Margaret Olwen Macmillan Knihy

Pohled britské historičky Margaret MacMillanové na pařížskou mírovou konferenci (1919), jež zásadně proměnila do té doby existující svět, je nejen nový a překvapivý, ale v mnoha ohledech také šokující. Způsob, jakým dokumentuje pohnutky, úvahy a činy „mírotvorců“ -- tedy mužů, kteří sami vzali osud světa do vlastních rukou a v nejlepší víře ve své počínání pak bezděky přivedli svět k další světové válce --, bohatství pramenů a snaha vysvětlit dopodrobna kroky politiků a důvody pro vznik nových států i jejich touhy po sebeurčení přinesly autorce mimořádný čtenářský ohlas (kniha vyšla ve Velké Británii v pěti vydáních v rozmezí tří let!) a získala také dvě britská prestižní ocenění za nejlepší díla z oblasti historie. Práce Margaret MacMillanové je nepochybně zcela ojedinělá a pro každého, kdo se zajímá o historii, nepostradatelná....

The First World War followed a period of sustained peace in Europe during which people talked with confidence of prosperity, progress and hope. But in 1914, Europe walked into a catastrophic conflict which killed millions of its men, bled its economies dry, shook empires and societies to pieces, and fatally undermined Europe's dominance of the world. Beginning in the early 19th century, and ending with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, historian Margaret MacMillan uncovers the huge political and technological changes, national decisions and - just as important - the small moments of human muddle and weakness that led Europe from peace to disaster.

Esteemed Canadian writer and historian Margaret MacMillan considers the paradoxical impact the First World War has had on Canada in her 2018 Symons medal address, The Lion's Cub.

MacMillan makes history come to life in one of the most important subjects today: the relationship between the United States and China and the historic meeting of Richard Nixon and Mao Tse-tung in 1972 that ultimately laid the groundwork for the relationship between the two nations.

What difference do individuals make to history? Are we all swept up in the great forces like industrialisation or globalisation that change the world? Clearly not: real people-leaders in particular-and the decisions that they make change our lives irrevocably, whether in deciding to go to war or not, decisive tactical choices made in the heat of battle or changing the economic fortunes of countries.So if people-explorers, rulers, politicians, campaigners-make a difference in history, what is the role of personality? What difference did, for example, Nixon, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Montaigne or Stalin make? And what about less visible but influential people such as Edith Durham in the early twentieth century in Eastern Europe or Fanny Parks in nineteenth century India?Is it possible to find or discern patterns in different types of personality-tyranny, risk-taking, curiosity, reluctance to act? This pithy book interrogates the past to ask very big questions about the role of individuals and their behaviour. It really matters: the personalities of the powerful can affect-for better or worse-millions of people and the future of countries. Like all the best history, this book colours the way you see not only the past but the present.

The past is capricious enough to support every stance - no matter how questionable. In 2002, the Bush administration decided that dealing with Saddam Hussein was like appeasing Hitler or Mussolini, and promptly invaded Iraq. Were they wrong to look to history for guidance? No; their mistake was to exaggerate one of its lessons while suppressing others of equal importance. History is often hijacked through suppression, manipulation, and, sometimes, even outright deception. MacMillan's book is packed full of examples of the abuses of history. In response, she urges us to treat the past with care and respect.

Looking at Britain's involvement in India over three and a half centuries, but particularly the period of empire from the 1850s to 1947, the author recreates the role of the women of the Raj from their own letters and memoirs, from novels, and from interviews with survivors. The text is complemented by a wide-ranging selection of contemporary illustrations.

How the human history of conflict has transformed the world we live in - for good and evil.

Exploring the profound impact of history on daily life, the author emphasizes the importance of engaging with historical events, both individually and nationally. This work serves as a tribute to living history while cautioning against its complexities. It presents a compelling argument for critically examining our understanding of the past, encouraging readers to enrich their lives through a thoughtful approach to historical relevance.