After exploring my DNA, I'm interested in reading about French history and German history. Anybody have any good recommendations? Can be on politics, daily life, religion, royalty, anything really.
Edit: I'm most interested in pre-WWII history.
Posted Feb 13, 2018, 4:28 AM UTC
German History is a bit of a mess. There is this thing called the Holy Roman Empire that was more a confederation of around 300 shifting states, free cities, and bishoprics which is going to sit in the heart of Europe for longer than the Roman Republic and the Western Roman Empire combined.
Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire is not an easy work to get through because it is extremely detailed, but you're not going to find a more comprehensive work on this complex subject without taking a university course. It will take you from the formation of Charlemagne’s kingdom in 800 to its demise in 1806.
At that point you could get into Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts, or start there, as it's a great book.
Thank you, I'll check into them!
For French history you should visit the Realms of Memory by Pierre Nora. It's a cultural-historical approach on important milestones of the history of France, looking at events, persons and cultural monuments as well.
That's right up my alley, thanks so much.
For French mostly historical fiction, check out anything from Balzac's "Comedie Humaine"... The Penguin Classics "Selected Short Stories" is a good place to start.
Thank you for the suggestion!
You're welcome. Now that I think of it, most of the entire Comedie Humaine is available on the Gutenberg Library to download for free, if you've got an e-reader. "The Red Inn" and "The Atheist's Mass" are two short stories that really stand out for me. Also, Alexis de Tocqueville's "The Old Regime and the Revolution" seems to be the major historical book on the French revolution.
For France, try Citizens by Simon Schama. It's a really in depth, approachable look at the Revolution of 1789.
Thanks! Definitely will give that one a look.