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The Lights that Failed

October 27, 2023

The Lights that Failed: European International History 1919–1933 is the first of two volumes on the political and diplomatic history of Europe between the World Wars (1919 – 1939) and is part of the Oxford History of Modern Europe series.

The Lights that Failed: European International History 1919–1933
Book cover
AuthorZara Steiner
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Oxford History of Modern Europe
SubjectHistory of Europe between the end of World War I and the assumption of power by Adolf Hitler
GenreHistory
PublisherOxford University Press
Publication date
2007
Media typeHardcover, Paperback, Kindle
Pages956 pp.
ISBN978-0199226863
Followed byThe Triumph of the Dark: European International History 1933-1939 
WebsiteBook Website

Synopsis edit

This first volume covers the period from the end of fighting in World War I and the multitude of peace treaties negotiated to end the conflict, to the disintegration of European financial systems as a result of the Great Depression and the rise of Adolf Hitler. Steiner weaves together two distinct threads of interwar historiography, security and economics, to create a "big picture" holistic view of this period of history, covering both great powers and smaller and emerging nations.[1]

Steiner's narrative focuses mainly on the political and economic history of the period and its impact international relations. She focuses on the complex, unforgiving, and often harsh realities of nationalist economic and security policies and how they impacted the relationships between established and emerging European nations. One of Steiner's major contribution to the field of international history is her coverage of the lesser powers of Europe, such as those in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, which are normally overlooked in works on the period, which are dominated by a great powers narrative and perspective.[2]

The book is structured with two parts of unequal length. The first part of the work is on 1918 to 1929 and focuses on reconstruction of a "shattered" Europe after World War I. The second and shorter part is on what Steiner refers to as the "hinge years" of 1929 to 1933 and focuses on the impact of the Great Depression in Europe, the failure of disarmament as a cornerstone of European security, and the surge of nationalism which upended the European international order. Steiner refers to those years as "hinge year" because she "determined that the doors of Europe that had swung open after the First World War – favouring a reduction of barriers within Europe with regard to the movement of goods, money, people and ideas – slammed firmly shut by 1933." Steiner also covers the impact of the Japanese invasion and occupation of Manchuria on internal and external European relations. The book concludes with a chronology of international events between 1919 and 1933 and an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources.[2][3]

Academic reception edit

"Among the many virtues of Steiner’s masterly synthetic account are a wide geographic range, with an extensive treatment of Central Europe and the Balkans; a command of the very extensive monographic literature, with judicious summings up and verdicts on the often ferocious microhistoriographical debates; beautiful vignettes of the leading politicians and diplomats; and an ability to bring together the economic and security aspects of European politics." Harold James, Princeton University.[1]

"A magisterial narrative history, thorough, comprehensive, wide-ranging, well organized, cautious, balanced in judgement, objective in tone, and (insofar as any book of this size, complexity, and detail can be) readable."[4]

"Its publication ... emphatically affirms Zara Steiner's status as the pre-eminent historian of inter-war international affairs."[5]

Academic reviews edit

  • Clavin, Patricia (January 2006). "Book review: The Lights That Failed. European International History, 1919–1933". The Institute of Historical Research, the University of London (489).
  • Conway, Martin (2006). "Reviewed work: The Lights that Failed: European International History, 1919–1933, Zara Steiner". English Historical Review. 121 (494): 1491–1493. doi:10.1093/ehr/cel313.
  • Hoffmann, Stanley (2005). "Reviewed work: The Lights That Failed: European International History, 1919-1933, Zara Steiner". Foreign Affairs. 84 (5): 177. doi:10.2307/20031737. JSTOR 20031737.
  • James, Harold (2007). "The Lights That Failed: European International History, 1919–1933. By Zara Steiner. Oxford History of Modern Europe. Edited by Lord Bullock and Sir William Deakin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005". Journal of Modern History. 79 (3): 648–649. doi:10.1086/523217.
  • Jeannesson, Stanislas (2006). "Reviewed work: The Lights That Failed: European International History 1919-1933, Zara Steiner". Politique Étrangère. 71 (2): 442–443. JSTOR 42716560.
  • Johnson, Gaynor (2006). "Reviewed work: The Lights that Failed: European International History 1919–1933, Zara Steiner". History. 2 (302): 313–314. JSTOR 24427872.
  • McKercher, B. J. C. (2007). "Reviewed work: The Lights That Failed: European International History 1919–1933, Zara Steiner". International Journal. 62 (3): 723–725. doi:10.1177/002070200706200321. S2CID 141371871.
  • McKercher, B.J.C. (2007). "Review: The Lights That Failed". International Journal: Canada's Journal of Global Policy Analysis. 62 (3): 723–725. doi:10.1177/002070200706200321. S2CID 141371871.
  • Overy, Richard (2005). "They Tried; They Failed". Literary Review (323).
  • Schroeder, Paul W. (2006). "The Lights That Failed, and Those Never Lit". International History Review. 28 (1): 119–126. doi:10.1080/07075332.2006.9641089. S2CID 154079259.

Release information edit

Series information edit

Main article: The Oxford History of Modern Europe
See also: The Penguin History of Europe

The Lights that Failed is part of the Oxford History of Modern Europe and is the first of two volumes authored by Steiner for the series, the second being the follow-up The Triumph of the Dark: European International History 1933-1939. The series is edited by Alan Bullock and William Deakin.[6]

Similar or related works edit

About the author edit

Main article: Zara Steiner
See also: Ian Kershaw, Richard J. Evans, A. J. P. Taylor, and Paul W. Schroeder

Zara Steiner (6 November 1928 – 13 February 2020) was an American-born British historian and academic. Steiner specialised in foreign relations, international relations, 20th century history of Europe and of the United States. Richard J. Evans has described her two volumes in the Oxford History of Modern Europe (The Lights That Failed and The Triumph of the Dark) as the "standard works" on international diplomacy between the two world wars.[7][8] She was elected as a fellow of the British Academy and also served as Acting President of the University of Cambridge.[9]

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ A Kindle edition (2005) is available

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b James, Harold (2007). "The Lights That Failed: European International History, 1919–1933. By Zara Steiner. Oxford History of Modern Europe. Edited by Lord Bullock and Sir William Deakin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005". The Journal of Modern History. 79 (3): 648–649. doi:10.1086/523217.
  2. ^ a b Clavin, Patricia (January 2006). "Book review: The Lights That Failed. European International History, 1919–1933". The Institute of Historical Research, the University of London (489).
  3. ^ Hoffmann, Stanley (2005). "Reviewed work: The Lights That Failed: European International History, 1919–1933, Zara Steiner". Foreign Affairs. 84 (5): 177. doi:10.2307/20031737. JSTOR 20031737.
  4. ^ Schroeder, Paul W. (2006). "The Lights That Failed, and Those Never Lit". International History Review. 28 (1): 119–126. doi:10.1080/07075332.2006.9641089. S2CID 154079259.
  5. ^ Conway, Martin (2006). "Reviewed work: The Lights that Failed: European International History, 1919–1933, Zara Steiner". English Historical Review. 121 (494): 1491–1493. doi:10.1093/ehr/cel313.
  6. ^ "Oxford History of Modern Europe". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  7. ^ Richard J Evans (24 February 2020). "Zara Steiner obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Steiner, Dr Zara Shakow (1928–)". history.ac.uk. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Zara Steiner". University of London.

External links edit

  • The Lights that Failed: European International History 1919–1933 by Zara Steiner, Oxford University Press.
  • The Oxford History of Modern Europe series, Oxford University Press.

October 27, 2023
lights, that, failed, european, international, history, 1919, 1933, first, volumes, political, diplomatic, history, europe, between, world, wars, 1919, 1939, part, oxford, history, modern, europe, series, european, international, history, 1919, 1933book, cover. The Lights that Failed European International History 1919 1933 is the first of two volumes on the political and diplomatic history of Europe between the World Wars 1919 1939 and is part of the Oxford History of Modern Europe series The Lights that Failed European International History 1919 1933Book coverAuthorZara SteinerCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishSeriesThe Oxford History of Modern EuropeSubjectHistory of Europe between the end of World War I and the assumption of power by Adolf HitlerGenreHistoryPublisherOxford University PressPublication date2007Media typeHardcover Paperback KindlePages956 pp ISBN978 0199226863Followed byThe Triumph of the Dark European International History 1933 1939 WebsiteBook Website Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Academic reception 3 Academic reviews 4 Release information 5 Series information 6 Similar or related works 7 About the author 8 See also 9 References 9 1 Notes 9 2 Citations 10 External linksSynopsis editThis first volume covers the period from the end of fighting in World War I and the multitude of peace treaties negotiated to end the conflict to the disintegration of European financial systems as a result of the Great Depression and the rise of Adolf Hitler Steiner weaves together two distinct threads of interwar historiography security and economics to create a big picture holistic view of this period of history covering both great powers and smaller and emerging nations 1 Steiner s narrative focuses mainly on the political and economic history of the period and its impact international relations She focuses on the complex unforgiving and often harsh realities of nationalist economic and security policies and how they impacted the relationships between established and emerging European nations One of Steiner s major contribution to the field of international history is her coverage of the lesser powers of Europe such as those in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe which are normally overlooked in works on the period which are dominated by a great powers narrative and perspective 2 The book is structured with two parts of unequal length The first part of the work is on 1918 to 1929 and focuses on reconstruction of a shattered Europe after World War I The second and shorter part is on what Steiner refers to as the hinge years of 1929 to 1933 and focuses on the impact of the Great Depression in Europe the failure of disarmament as a cornerstone of European security and the surge of nationalism which upended the European international order Steiner refers to those years as hinge year because she determined that the doors of Europe that had swung open after the First World War favouring a reduction of barriers within Europe with regard to the movement of goods money people and ideas slammed firmly shut by 1933 Steiner also covers the impact of the Japanese invasion and occupation of Manchuria on internal and external European relations The book concludes with a chronology of international events between 1919 and 1933 and an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources 2 3 Academic reception edit Among the many virtues of Steiner s masterly synthetic account are a wide geographic range with an extensive treatment of Central Europe and the Balkans a command of the very extensive monographic literature with judicious summings up and verdicts on the often ferocious microhistoriographical debates beautiful vignettes of the leading politicians and diplomats and an ability to bring together the economic and security aspects of European politics Harold James Princeton University 1 A magisterial narrative history thorough comprehensive wide ranging well organized cautious balanced in judgement objective in tone and insofar as any book of this size complexity and detail can be readable 4 Its publication emphatically affirms Zara Steiner s status as the pre eminent historian of inter war international affairs 5 Academic reviews editClavin Patricia January 2006 Book review The Lights That Failed European International History 1919 1933 The Institute of Historical Research the University of London 489 Conway Martin 2006 Reviewed work The Lights that Failed European International History 1919 1933 Zara Steiner English Historical Review 121 494 1491 1493 doi 10 1093 ehr cel313 Hoffmann Stanley 2005 Reviewed work The Lights That Failed European International History 1919 1933 Zara Steiner Foreign Affairs 84 5 177 doi 10 2307 20031737 JSTOR 20031737 James Harold 2007 The Lights That Failed European International History 1919 1933 By Zara Steiner Oxford History of Modern Europe Edited by Lord Bullock and Sir William Deakin Oxford Oxford University Press 2005 Journal of Modern History 79 3 648 649 doi 10 1086 523217 Jeannesson Stanislas 2006 Reviewed work The Lights That Failed European International History 1919 1933 Zara Steiner Politique Etrangere 71 2 442 443 JSTOR 42716560 Johnson Gaynor 2006 Reviewed work The Lights that Failed European International History 1919 1933 Zara Steiner History 2 302 313 314 JSTOR 24427872 McKercher B J C 2007 Reviewed work The Lights That Failed European International History 1919 1933 Zara Steiner International Journal 62 3 723 725 doi 10 1177 002070200706200321 S2CID 141371871 McKercher B J C 2007 Review The Lights That Failed International Journal Canada s Journal of Global Policy Analysis 62 3 723 725 doi 10 1177 002070200706200321 S2CID 141371871 Overy Richard 2005 They Tried They Failed Literary Review 323 Schroeder Paul W 2006 The Lights That Failed and Those Never Lit International History Review 28 1 119 126 doi 10 1080 07075332 2006 9641089 S2CID 154079259 Release information editHardcover 2005 1st Edition Oxford University Press 938pp ISBN 978 0198221142 a Paperback 2007 1st Edition Oxford University Press 938pp ISBN 978 0199226863 Series information editMain article The Oxford History of Modern Europe See also The Penguin History of Europe The Lights that Failed is part of the Oxford History of Modern Europe and is the first of two volumes authored by Steiner for the series the second being the follow up The Triumph of the Dark European International History 1933 1939 The series is edited by Alan Bullock and William Deakin 6 Similar or related works editThe Origins of the Second World War by A J P Taylor 1961 The Struggle for Mastery in Europe 1848 1918 by A J P Taylor 1954 The Third Reich Trilogy by Richard J Evans 2003 2005 2008 The Twenty Years Crisis by E H Carr 1939 About the author editMain article Zara Steiner See also Ian Kershaw Richard J Evans A J P Taylor and Paul W Schroeder Zara Steiner 6 November 1928 13 February 2020 was an American born British historian and academic Steiner specialised in foreign relations international relations 20th century history of Europe and of the United States Richard J Evans has described her two volumes in the Oxford History of Modern Europe The Lights That Failed and The Triumph of the Dark as the standard works on international diplomacy between the two world wars 7 8 She was elected as a fellow of the British Academy and also served as Acting President of the University of Cambridge 9 See also editParis Peace Conference 1919 1920 Aftermath of World War I Interwar period International relations 1919 1939 References editNotes edit A Kindle edition 2005 is available Citations edit a b James Harold 2007 The Lights That Failed European International History 1919 1933 By Zara Steiner Oxford History of Modern Europe Edited by Lord Bullock and Sir William Deakin Oxford Oxford University Press 2005 The Journal of Modern History 79 3 648 649 doi 10 1086 523217 a b Clavin Patricia January 2006 Book review The Lights That Failed European International History 1919 1933 The Institute of Historical Research the University of London 489 Hoffmann Stanley 2005 Reviewed work The Lights That Failed European International History 1919 1933 Zara Steiner Foreign Affairs 84 5 177 doi 10 2307 20031737 JSTOR 20031737 Schroeder Paul W 2006 The Lights That Failed and Those Never Lit International History Review 28 1 119 126 doi 10 1080 07075332 2006 9641089 S2CID 154079259 Conway Martin 2006 Reviewed work The Lights that Failed European International History 1919 1933 Zara Steiner English Historical Review 121 494 1491 1493 doi 10 1093 ehr cel313 Oxford History of Modern Europe Oxford University Press Retrieved 22 November 2020 Richard J Evans 24 February 2020 Zara Steiner obituary The Guardian Retrieved 24 November 2020 Steiner Dr Zara Shakow 1928 history ac uk Institute of Historical Research Retrieved 30 October 2016 Zara Steiner University of London External links editThe Lights that Failed European International History 1919 1933 by Zara Steiner Oxford University Press The Oxford History of Modern Europe series Oxford University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Lights that Failed amp oldid 1176403547, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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