Between Two Fires: Europe's Path in the 1930's by David Clay Large

by David Clay Large

A collection of essays on various incidents of European history that occurred in the 1930s which build up an image of Europe on the brink. Episodes are linked to illustrate this, such as the Stavinsky affair in France, the murder of Ernest Rom, and the civil war in the red quarters of Vienna.

Genres: History

Hardcover

First published March 28, 1990

About the author

David Clay Large is a senior fellow at the Institute of European Studies, University of California, Berkeley, and professor of history at the Fromm Institute, University of San Francisco. He has also taught at Smith College, Yale University, and Montana State University.

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the discussion of the Munich pact and the summary of the various historical arguments that continue to this day about the choices made very interesting and intelligible to the lay reader that is not an expert in this era. The other chapters each of which focused on a country and an important event, was a clear choice to tell the story, similar in some respects to Dark Valley, at times helpful (if one wants to know what is happening in a specific country), at times less so, as then the "big" pictures tens to get lost. The citations/end-notes leave much to be desired, however.

[Timothyemmalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of really fascinating summaries of important events. However, the inclusion of a rather innocuous March in England put alongside the purges in Germany and Russia was rather strange.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most interesting books I had to read for class in my 4+ years of college. It covers the span between WWI and WWII and looks at social changes around the world and how they contributed to the situation that would lead to WWII.

What I liked about the format is that it broke down the time into events in different parts of the world, and you could pick your area and read one segment at a time and pick how you got through the book.

For me this is a fascinating look at the world and the changes that took place in poltics, society and economics that helped create both the situation that led not only to WWII, but to our current state of affairs.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of a period between two World Wars — an interim in which Insanity cut loose. Liberty took a nose dive, and Humanity was kicked around somewhat

[Nathalie Pierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of Europe between the Two WOrld War!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book that paints a vivid portrait of various aspects of Europe in the '30s, events that were in the news, what people were talking about. A mise-en-scene of the era leading up to the cataclysm of World War II. At one point, during the chapter concerning Mussolini's war in Ethiopia, Large mentions that American blacks in New York City took it out on Italian street vendors and merchants in retribution for what the old country was doing in Africa. The type of small, but vital detail, that you don't usually get in history books. I will have to read this one again for the sheer joy of it.

[Rob Schmults · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’ve read a lot of books on the 1930s and the lead up to WWII - so impressed how fresh this book feels. The author found an interesting approach to write on this period without covering the same old ground in the same old way: tell the stories of specific events to illustrate broader trends. And he does this in an extremely readable fashion. I also appreciated how he mixes more familiar events (Munich) with less well known ones (the Jarrow March). This is a good book either as a first read on the period or for those who have read widely.

[Hans Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Clay Large, in a series of seemingly unrelated vignettes, has created a masterful examination of Europe in the 1930's, culminating in an examination of the Munich Conference that thematically ties together his vignettes to reveal that - like a jigsaw puzzle - it all comes together in the later rush to war.

[Dylan Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly adequate history book with a unique penchant for metaphor. More readable than most, but I don't think it says anything or exposes anything too mind-blowing about the time period. Still, if you are interested in the subject matter, you will probably enjoy it. If you aren't, it will be a slog despite the interesting metaphors.