A Short History of Europe

Jenkins is, like all good guides, more than simply informative: he can be courteous and rude, nostalgic and funny, elegant, convincing and relaxed

Adam Nicolson on 'England’s Thousand Best Houses', Evening Standard

Any passably cultured inhabitant of the British Isles should ask for, say, three or four copies of this book

Max Hastings on 'England’s Thousand Best Houses', Sunday Telegraph

Full of stand-out facts ... absolutely fascinating

Richard Bacon, BBC Radio 2, on 'A Short History of England'

Full of the good judgements one might hope for from such a sensible and readable commentator, and they alone are worth perusing for pleasure and food for thought

Michael Wood on 'A Short History of England', New Statesman

Masterly, perhaps a masterpiece

Independent, Books of the Year on England's Thousand Best Churches

A short, invigorating gallop over two and a half thousand years

Allan Massie, Scotsman

Simon Jenkins achieves a high ambition: a concise readable history of two millennia of European civilisation from its discernible origins to our present perplexities. In 305 pages! . . . An immensely rewarding book from a gifted writer

Harold Evans

Jenkins has produced the sort of work that not only compacts people and places into manageable form but also has wit and insight enough to bring a sense of freshness even to a knowledgeable history buff

Booklist review