I Wish I’d Been There, Book Two: European History

by: Byron Hollingshead and Theodore K. Rabb, Editors

Published by: Anchor Books

Reviewed by Diane Snyder

I Wish I’d Been There, Book Two covers selected historical events in Europe from June 323 B.C. with the death of Alexander the Great to May, 1945 with the surrender of part of the German Army to Field Marshall Montgomery.
Twenty historians, who are experts in their area of history, describe micro-moments within the larger more notable events and tell why they wish they were there. All these historians are or have been professors, are award winners and have many published works. Not all the authors have a knack for adding flair and drama to their essays or pulling the reader into the moment in history, but they are all well written and most probably reliable accounts.
The book offers something for any area of interest. The editors have chosen a varied array of histories – military history, art history, musical history and theater history to name a few.

Included in many of the essays are black and white illustrations that help to enhance the point being made. For instance, in 1863, the painter Edouard Manet had a painting rejected by the Paris Salon Selection Committee as being “unfit for public display.” Thankfully, a black and white reproduction of that scandalous painting is included in the essay.

One of the more exciting essays and my favorite is Paul Kennedy’s “Battle of the Nile.” He relates the events as witnessed by an imaginary fisherman living on Aboukir Island in August 1798. The details of the battle between the English fleet commanded by Admiral Nelson and the French fleet commanded by Admiral Brueys is riveting and includes an illustration of the positions of the many vessels involved.

From action-adventure to the whimsical, the lowly potato is lifted to memorable heights in “Frederick the Great and the Propagation of Potatoes” as well as Picasso’s foray into the ballet in “Backstage at the Ballets Russes with Picasso.”
As the subject of this book is European history, Book One is about events that changed American history. History buffs should be pleased and delighted with the historical smorgasbord from which to choose.

Armchair Interviews says: Great read for anyone, but will be cherished by history buffs.