Author Description

This is surely the most important historical work produced in this century. The boldness and originality of its concept, its depth of research, its high literary quality all stamp it with the mark of genius. Ever since the first volumes of the twelve-volume book appeared in the 1930's, the work has earned the close and continuing attention of both historiographers and literary critics - and exceptional praise. This one volume, 576-page edition of A STUDY OF HISTORY puts the essence of the great work into easily accessible and most attractive form. (The original totals more than 7000 pages.) Moreover, as Dr. Toynbee's foreword makes clear, the new book is more than an abridgement of the original. He has extensively redrafted, revised, and updated his history, to take note of new historical events and discoveries and to include his own "reconsiderations" of his concept. The new edition is also the first to be illustrated. These are more than 500 historical pictures, many reproduced in color and all selected by Dr. Toynbee with the assistance of Jane Caplan, his collaborator on the project. Miss Caplan has written the excellent captions for the pictures, which are closely coordinated with the text. Here, in sum, is a brilliant history and great scholarly work, in wonderfully readable form.