Geoffrey Blainey has applied his narrative talents and his scholarly credentials to trace the history of a tempestuous century. A Short History of the Twentieth Century carries some of the excitement of the times as well as the power of unforeseen events. The theme that dominates much of the book is war and peace-a nervous peace-which gripped the attention of most people who lived through a large part of the century. Mr. Blainey's talent for identifying the telling detail, the crucial event, the key personality makes for masterful storytelling, and his interest ranges wide over the fields of human activity; he is concerned not only with major transformations but also with the everyday experiences of people around the world. A Short History of the Twentieth Century entertains like a novel, educates and informs like the best of teachers. With 10 maps.