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  3. Writing for an historical series is tricky, and the outcome is not always a success. The best overall European history in Englis

Writing for an historical series is tricky, and the outcome is not always a success. The best overall European history in Englis

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问题     Writing for an historical series is tricky, and the outcome is not always a success. The best overall European history in English is the old Fontana History of Europe, but it was uneven in quality, and it suffered because the volumes appeared so far apart in time. The new Penguin History of Europe has only recently begun. But judging by this second volume in a projected eight-volume series, it is going to be a smashing success.
    Tim Blanning, a Cambridge history professor, brings his period knowledge, experience, sound judgment and a colorful narrative style. His broad range is evident from the start when, in place of the usual recitation of politics and battles, he expounds on such themes as communications, transport, demography and farming. Indeed, much of what might be seen as traditional history is pushed back to the fourth and final part of the book. Not the least of Mr. Blanning’s achievements is his integrated approach to the entire continent. He jumps nimbly from Spain to the Low Countries, from Russia to Austria, from Prussia to Turkey. Many of Europe’s royal families were related, after all.
    The author also expertly places the history of the two greatest rivals of the day, England and France, in its wider European context. Any British Eurosceptic who thinks his country’s history is detached from continental Europe’s would realize from even the most inadequate reading of this book how bound up with the continent it has in fact always been.
    The 17th and 18th centuries in Europe were, above all, a period of war. Indeed, it seemed at times as if France and Austria, the leading martial powers in 1648, did little else but fight. Sometimes war helped to stimulate economic and commercial development. But it is striking that it fell to Britain, which enjoyed at least a few years of peace, to pioneer Europe’s industrialization.
    The book is stronger on the 18th century than on the second half of the 17th, reflecting the author’s own historical bias. Another weakness is that, though there is a reasonable bibliography, it has no footnotes citing sources, a scandalous omission in a work with serious academic pretensions. It also sometimes takes for granted a basic grounding in the history of the period, which may be problematic for students at whom it is presumably in part aimed. But overall Mr. Blanning has produced a triumphant success.
Which of the following is true about the old Fontana History of Europe?
选项 A、Some parts are good, while others not.
B、It is an eight-volume historical series.
C、It is not a successful historical series.
D、It becomes less famous as time goes by.
答案A
解析 根据the old Fontana History of Europe定位到第一段。其中讲到该书质量参差不齐(uneven in quality)，编写时间间隔过长也使书籍受影响，A项与文中内容相符。
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