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This new edition of Norman Davies's classic study of the history of Poland has been revised and fully updated with two new chapters to bring the story to the end of the twentieth century. The writing of Polish history, like Poland itself, has frequently fallen prey to interested parties. Professor Norman Davies adopts a sceptical stance towards all existing interpretations and attempts to bring a strong dose of common sense to his theme. He presents the most
comprehensive survey in English of this frequently maligned and usually misunderstood country. Review from previous edition Anyone who wants to understand what has happened in Poland must dig into Norman Davies's great opencast mine of Polish History...it is very accessible, strewn with vivid quotations from original sources, good anecdotes, and much verse... * Sunday Times * The magnificence of God's Playground is that Norman Davies has given ust the music as well as the libretto, the passion, poetry, myth, and ancedote as well as the facts...Davies writes with spirit, and his enjoyment is infectious. * Observer * A yawning gap in Anglophone historical literature has now been filled...Dr Davies writes interestingly and well. His moods vary between cool detachment, passionate involvement, and ironic comment. His range of sources is wide and imaginative...a very substantial achievement. * Times Literary Supplement *

God's Playground A History of Poland: Volume 1: The Origins to 1795

1. MILLENIUM: A THOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY ; 2. Polska: The Polish Land ; 3. Piast: The Polanian Dynasty (to 1370) ; 4. Anjou: The Hungarian Connection (1370-1386) ; 5. Jogaila: The Lithuanian Union (1386-1572) ; 6. ANTEMURALE: THE BULWARK OF CHRISTENDOM (RELIGION) ; 7. The Nobelman's Paradise (Society) ; 8. Handel: The Baltic Grain Trade (Economy) ; 9. Miasto: The Vicissitudes of Urban Life (The Cities) ; 10. Anarchia: The Noble Democracy (The Constitution) ; 11. Serenissima: Diplomacy in Poland - Lithuania (Foreign Affairs) ; 12. Valois: The French Experiment (1572-1575) ; 13. Bathory: The Transylvanian Victor (1576-1586) ; 14. Vasa: The Swedish Connection (1587-1668) ; 15. Michal: The Austrian Candidate (1669-1673) ; 16. Sobieski: Terror of the Turk (1674-1696) ; 17. Wettin: The Saxon Era (1697-1763) ; 18. Agonia: The End of the Eussian Protectorate (1764-1795)