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Crucible: Thirteen Months that Forged Our World Paperback – April 30, 2019

by Jonathan Fenby (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 129
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An extraordinary and eye-opening account of the pivotal events during the thirteen months between 1947-1948 that shaped the world we know today.

Two years after the end of World War II and the defeat of the Axis forces of Germany, Italy, and Japan, this turbulent time saw the unfolding of the Cold War between Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Russia and the Western powers under the untested leadership of Harry Truman as America came to play a global role for the first time.

The British Empire began its demise with the birth of the Indian and Pakistan republics, and the flight of millions as Vietnam, Indonesia, and other colonies around the globe vied for freedom. 1948 also marked the creation of the state of Israel, the refugee flight of Palestinians and the first Arab-Israeli war, as well as the victories of Communist armies that led to their final triumph in China, the coming of apartheid to South Africa, the division of Korea, major technological change, and the rolling out of the welfare state against a backdrop of events that ensured the global order would never be the same again.

Important, timely, and spanning the globe with overlapping epic events featuring such historic figures as Truman and Marshall, Stalin and Molotov, Attlee and Bevin, De Gaulle and Adenauer, Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek, Nehru and Jinnah, Ben Gurion and the Arab leaders, Crucible offers an unprecedented look at how these figures forged the path to our modern world.
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  1. Print length
    624 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster UK
  4. Publication date
    April 30, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    6.02 x 1.6 x 9.21 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781471155017
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1471155017
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

‘This is a work of history, but it is also a beguiling symphony performed in discordant rhythm. Too often historians impose order on the past, making mess into method. There’s little order here. That’s a good thing’ ― The Times Books of the Year

'A truly global account of a crucial time that has rarely been examined in detail by historians...Fenby retells well-known episodes such as the 1948-49 Berlin airlift with a combination of stylish prose and immense command of the historical detail. But the real eye-openers are the deft analyses of less familiar crises' -- Rana Mitter ― BBC History Magazine

‘The strength of this book lies in the cold realities it delivers. “The thirteen months of 1947-48,” writes Fenby, “provide trenchant examples of how realpolitik can serve a wider purpose if those in power know how to use it.” Crucible captures perfectly the urgency of the time…Read this book for the light it shines on a turbulent time; cherish it for the lessons it provides’ -- Gerard DeGroot ― The Times

‘Looking back 70 years Jonathan Fenby argues convincingly that the period from 1947 to 1948 “really did change the world”. His book is an assured gallop across the terrain of contemporary history in this fateful year. The global devastation of the second world war had smashed longstanding institutions and bankrupted empires, leaving behind the kind of power vacuums that were major openings for change and chaos. Crucible swings from one region to the next in a fast-moving account of how local actors filled those vacuums, often with violence.’ -- Mary Sarote ― Financial Times

‘The months in question are June 1947 to June 1948 which also saw the foundation of Israel and the independence of partition of India and the assertion of ever more brutal power in Eastern Europe by Stalin. He reminds us how, so soon after the horrors of Nazi occupation, hard-left workers in Czechoslovakia entered into “a state of battle” against those trying to secure democracy and liberty’ -- Simon Heffer ― Daily Telegraph

About the Author

Jonathan Fenby is a former editor of the Observer, The South China Morning Post, and is a guest on many American news sites, including CNN. He is the author of several books including the acclaimed On the Brink: The Trouble with France and Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-Shek and the China He Lost. In 2013 Jonathan was awarded the Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur by the French government for his contribution towards understanding between Britain and France.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1471155013
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster UK (April 30, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 624 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781471155017
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1471155017
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.9 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.02 x 1.6 x 9.21 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 129

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Jonathan Fenby

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
129 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

George E Merguerian
5.0 out of 5 stars Catch up with the past to understand the now
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2019
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Makes you understand current events that have their roots in the post war era. Great read of events clearly explained.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book about the most important period in our recent history.
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018
A great read. A must for understanding how we got to where we are today.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Criticaster
1.0 out of 5 stars Many pages are MISSING!!!
Reviewed in Canada on August 9, 2018
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PLEASE NOTE!!!!

Many pages from this Kindle Edition are MISSING!!! It is EXTREMELY frustrating to read!!!

PLEASE fix this soon !!!!
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating view into the formation of the post WW2 political and economic order
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
Wonderfully written, it is about the key world events after WW2, especially in the years 1947 and 1948.
The magnitude of the global issues faced at that time by world leaders was staggering and it seems hard to believe that resolution was possible. But great statesmen were on hand and they helped create the world we live in today. It puts our tawdry issues of today in perspective.
I dare anyone to read this book and still believe that we should undo the cooperative international institutions (whether the EU or WTO etc) that we benefit from today.
6 people found this helpful
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Mr G.
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2020
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A period of modern history that I knew very little about. I thought the book was very good but tended to agree with the writers viewpoint on most of the subjects covered. You may enjoy the book less if you're a Tankie for example. If you're interested in Britain's relegation to a second class power and the terribly handled partition of India then this is an excellent primer to further reading.
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ian rae
3.0 out of 5 stars Ask me when I've finished
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2020
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I think you should wait longer before asking for book reviews.
I'm only half way through it.
It's not a kettle.
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Gabriel Stein
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read of an interesting period
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
The immediate post-war years are frequently glossed over by historians eager to reach the 1950s. This is a mistake. Much of our world is still shaped by the events of the late 1940s. Fenby, an always readable and enjoyable writer, does an excellent job of moving month by month through the year from mid-1947 to mid-1948, concentrating on different hotspots in each chapter. An fascinating read and strongly recommended.
7 people found this helpful
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