Fire and Blood
The European Civil War, 1914-1945
By Enzo Traverso | Publisher: Verso Books
About the book
Europe’s second Thirty Years’ War—an epoch of blood and ashes
Fire and Blood looks at the European crisis of the two world wars as a single historical sequence: the age of the European Civil War (1914–1945). Its overture was played out in the trenches of the Great War; its coda on a ruined continent. It opened with conventional declarations of war and finished with “unconditional surrender.” Proclamations of national unity led to eventual devastation, with entire countries torn to pieces. During these three decades of deepening conflicts, a classical interstate conflict morphed into a global civil war, abandoning rules of engagement and fought by irreducible enemies rather than legitimate adversaries, each seeking the annihilation of its opponents. It was a time of both unchained passions and industrial, rationalized massacre. Utilizing multiple sources, Enzo Traverso depicts the dialectic of this era of wars, revolutions and genocides. Rejecting commonplace notions of “totalitarian evil,” he rediscovers the feelings and reinterprets the ideas of an age of intellectual and political commitment when Europe shaped world history with its own collapse.
Editions of Fire and Blood
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781784781330
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781784781361
- EBook
- ISBN 9781784781347
Read an Excerpt
Europe’s second Thirty Years’ War—an epoch of blood and ashes
Fire and Blood looks at the European crisis of the two world wars as a single historical sequence: the age of the European Civil War (1914–1945). Its overture was played out in the trenches of the Great War; its coda on a ruined continent. It opened with conventional declarations of war and finished with “unconditional surrender.” Proclamations of national unity led to eventual devastation, with entire countries torn to pieces. During these three decades of deepening conflicts, a classical interstate conflict morphed into a global civil war, abandoning rules of engagement and fought by irreducible enemies rather than legitimate adversaries, each seeking the annihilation of its opponents. It was a time of both unchained passions and industrial, rationalized massacre. Utilizing multiple sources, Enzo Traverso depicts the dialectic of this era of wars, revolutions and genocides. Rejecting commonplace notions of “totalitarian evil,” he rediscovers the feelings and reinterprets the ideas of an age of intellectual and political commitment when Europe shaped world history with its own collapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fire and Blood about?
Europe’s second Thirty Years’ War—an epoch of blood and ashes
Fire and Blood looks at the European crisis of the two world wars as a single historical sequence: the age of the European Civil War (1914–1945). Its overture was played out in the trenches of the Great War; its coda on a ruined continent. It opened with conventional declarations of war and finished with “unconditional surrender.” Proclamations of national unity led to eventual devastation, with entire countries torn to pieces. During these three decades of deepening conflicts, a classical interstate conflict morphed into a global civil war, abandoning rules of engagement and fought by irreducible enemies rather than legitimate adversaries, each seeking the annihilation of its opponents. It was a time of both unchained passions and industrial, rationalized massacre. Utilizing multiple sources, Enzo Traverso depicts the dialectic of this era of wars, revolutions and genocides. Rejecting commonplace notions of “totalitarian evil,” he rediscovers the feelings and reinterprets the ideas of an age of intellectual and political commitment when Europe shaped world history with its own collapse.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Fire and Blood?
History and Archaeology > History > General and world history
Where can I read a sample of Fire and Blood?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781784781330
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Fire and Blood?
Enzo Traverso
Who is the Publisher of the book Fire and Blood?
Verso Books
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Fire and Blood is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781784781330) and paperback(ISBN 9781784781361) and ebook(ISBN 9781784781347)
Where can I buy Fire and Blood online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Fire and Blood?