Personality and Power Builders and Destroyers of Modern Europe

"[A] Deft and thoughtful work of synthesis."  Wall Street Journal

"Illuminating . . . an insightful series of essays about 12 exceptional leaders who stood at the centre of Europe's 20th century." Financial Times

"Sir Ian Kershaw, the great (in both senses) biographer of Adolf Hitler, makes an important contribution to this debate . . . persuasive and nuanced pen-portraits . . . well-researched, well-written and thought-provoking." Daily Telegraph
 
"Lucid portraits of the leaders who shaped Europe's 20th century . . . There is much to be admired in Kershaw's cogent and astute analysis." The Observer

Enlightening and stimulating . . . These excellent in-depth profiles of major figures and their influence on millions of people help us better understand why the world is as it is today. BookPage

Through sharp profiles of key figures, Kershaw provides an important framework for understanding power and how it is used. Kirkus

Striking an expert balance between personality profiles and political and social analysis, this is a rewarding study of a turbulent century in European history. Publishers Weekly
 
"Few historians are better qualified to answer these questions than Ian Kershaw ... As always, he proves a splendid miniaturist, expertly sketching personalities and philosophies in a few coolly judged lines ... If Kershaw's book has a contemporary lesson, it is that societies are probably happiest and healthiest when leaders matter least." Sunday Times (UK)