The Assassination of Europe, 1918-1942: A Political History

Howard M. Sachar focuses on the role of political assassinations in shaping the history of twentieth-century Europe. His novel and intriguing approach to historical explanation will challenge serious scholars and delight all history buffs. Readers will rarely find a book as instructive and at the same time as readable as The Assassination of Europe. Karl A. Schleunes, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

A vivid and gripping narrative of 11 major twentieth-century political assassinations, coupled with a master historian's shrewd analysis of causes and consequences. A hard book to put down. Jacques Kornberg, University of Toronto

Sachar takes the reader on a wide-ranging tour of Europe in the decades between the two World Wars, focusing on key figures whose lives were cut short by assassination or suicide. His deftly crafted portraits highlight broader political developments across the continent, so that the death of these individuals becomes a metaphor for the death of the humanist tradition that culminated in World War II. This is a highly readable account of a tumultuous period in European history. Cecile E. Kuznitz, Bard College