Product Description
A History of Denmark Knud J. V. Jespersen A thorough and accessible introduction to the development of modern Denmark From the Reformation to present day, this book guides the reader through 500 years of wars, territorial losses, domestic upheavals, new methods of production, and changes in thought in Denmark's history. Using new research and original theories, it's the perfect introduction to the fascinating and relatively unknown history of this small European country. Knud J. V. Jespersen is professor of modern history at the University of Southern Denmark and royal historiographer to H. M. the Queen of Denmark. He lives in Denmark. History 0-333-65917-1 $39.95 $58.95 Canadian 51/2" x 81/4" / 288 pages Palgrave Macmillan July July ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent way to gain understaning of the subject
Strangely enough, I rate this book highly for precisely the reason that the prior reviewer rated it low.The separation into different approaches (military, social, political, etc.) allows for an extremely well-rounded picture of the history of Denmark.Plus, there is a chronological summary at the end that ties it all together.Admittedly, this approach takes a little work on the part of the reader, but I feel that it gives a far clearer picture of the nation and people of Denmark than a more traditional 'school book' approach.

I enjoyed Wikipedia's History of Denmark More
I haven't enjoyed this book primarily due to lack of a captivating chronological narrative.Elements of Denmark's history (economic, religious etc.) are addressed separately over the past 500 years.It is difficult to get a picture of what things were like in any particular century with out first reading the entire book and then putting spread out elements together.I would recommend reading another book or wikipeadia if one wants to learn and understand the History of Denmark. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Historical writing at its dismal worst.
Without a doubt, one of the most boring books I've ever tried reading.

This is virtually nothing but an endless litany of names, dates, and places, barely held together by nebulous chapter themes (ex: "Monarchies in Equipoise").

My wife and I are taking a three week trip throughout Scandinavia, and I sought an interesting historical overview as background. This book is not it. I was a bit concerned since it originally published in 1977, but with 12 printings, I assumed it must have been updated (...wrong...) and was an interesting read (...wrong again...). There's only one illustration in the entire 400 page tome, and it's an out-of-date map.

Definitely written by a scholar for other scholars. Perhaps this book would be of interest to someone willing to spend a year deciphiring some runic inscription ... but for anyone seeking an interesting understanding of Scandinavian history, peoples and culture, this is death by detail.

A thorough, wide-ranging, scholarly work
This is a thorough, wide-ranging, scholarly work - a useful and insightful review that stretches over a millenium in time. Although the book charts the course in history of this geographically and culturally linked collection of peoples, it still emphasises the individuality of each.I hadn't realised just how complex a relationship of inter-dependence and rivalry existed between these nations for so long. Among the more fascinating discussions in the book, I would list: church-state relations especially in the period following the reformation, the impact of the industrial revolution and the development of the welfare state, the period leading up to the second world war and the relationship between the various countries and the major powers during the war (i.e. Finland with Russia, Denmark with Germany, etc.) and the historical contribution of each nation to the arts and sciences. One small criticism: I would have liked to have seen some maps in the book - my knowledge of Scandinavia is not so extensive that I could picture the geographical relationship of the many places mentioned.I especially found the early part of the book very heavy going, and difficult to follow the many movements of people that were detailed.

Excellent coverage of the war years
The author does an excellent job of covering Scandinavia during the war years. His use of information from Eisenhowers private papers brings a whole new dimension to understanding what was going on in each country.Iwas not aware that near the end of the war Ike had a serious plan toliberate the Norwegian Allies from the NAZIS, by first liberating Denmark,then proceeding overland across Sweden. (I wonder if he would have giventhe job to Patton?)

A concise and complete history of all of Scandinavia
In reading this book it becomes very apparent at how much the state-church relation influenced much of Scandinavia, and also it's people.It was also incredibly interesting to read about how the countries of Denmark, Swedenand Norway kept separating, and uniting.For anyone who is interested inScandinavian history, that delves way beneath the surface, look no further,TK Derry writes a book that can't be ignored. ... Read more

Product Description
The remarkable story of collective and individual acts of bravery and altruism. Photos, map, bibliography, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Darkness Over Denmark
A very thorough and comprehensive look at the heroic efforts of the Danish people during the Nazi occupation of Denmark during WWII.A great resource for parents reading Lois Lowry's Number the Stars.Moving and inspiring.

Excellent, insightful book
This is a well-written account of the remarkable thing that happened in Denmark during WWII, when a small country refused to separate a group of its people and send them on to certain death. There are many terrific individual stories in the book (many are told first-hand), among them the description of how, during the height of the war, a man in Denmark was arrested and convicted of vandalizing a synagogue in Copenhagen - right under the noses of the Nazis.
It is not a fawning work; the book deals with the Danish Nazi collaborators. But above all it is a tale of a people who did not look at their neighbors and see Jews, but looked at their neighbors and saw Danes like themselves.

When a nation stands up against an evil regime
Through all my reading on the topic of the Holocaust, I was always deeply struck by the courage of the Danish people, who refused to give up their Jewish citizens to the Nazis. This book does an above average job of chronicling the Danish resistance and how they rescued the Jews from certain annihilation. The author Ellen Levine has done an admirable job of compiling exhaustive interviews with fighters, rescuers, the Jews who were rescued and those less lucky. There are pictures scattered throughout that add to the narrative, and it feels more like a story being told than of an event being chronicled. Highly recommended for students of the subject, and everyone interested in the Holocaust.

Courage of the Danes
The courage of the Danes in World War II just blew me away when I read this book. I first read it because Lois Lowry's book Number The Stars struck my intrest. When I read the stories of the Resistance and the Jews, I can admit I cried. The author tells their stories perfectly. She conveys the courage these people had and how brave all those young Resistance leaders were but does not leave the hardships endured by these people. It is certainly a wonderful reference book for anyone doing a project on the Holocaust. There was only one thing that disappointed me. There wasn't a reference to the permeated handkerchief that fishing boat captains used after the Nazis started using dogs to search the boats.

Hope in the Darkness
Bravery, courage, and selflessness, characteristic of the Danishresistance during WWII, are bright glimpses of hope during a dark period ofworld history. The history of the Danish resistance is recordedchronologically, with individual rescue stories woven throughout. Thisbeautifully rendered acount, including photographs, is printed on thick,rich paper, underscoring the beauty of what was accomplished by the Danishpeople. Recommended for young adults and adults interested in the topic. ... Read more

Product Description
The Left in the 1960s and 1970s has a powerful, almost mythical, place in the history of the 20th century. It was during these decades that the radical Left managed to renew the language of socialism as an alternative to communism and liberalism alike, but also when radicalism often led to extremism and social movements turned into political sects. Focusing on the Left in Denmark and Sweden during those turbulent decades, this study pays close attention to the political language in the two countries and shows the constant challenge to the concepts of the Left in the face of rapid social, cultural and political changes. The precarious relationship between the Left and the nation serves as a starting point for the exploration of the development of the New Left after the break with communism, the subsequent student revolts and radicalization of the late 1960s until the movement s apparent collapse at the end of the 1970s. This book illustrates the challenges the Left was facing in its attempt to articulate a credible political language at a time of social, cultural and political transformation. ... Read more

Product Description
On July 2, 1822, Denmark Vesey and five co-conspirators were hanged in a desolate marsh outside of Charleston, South Carolina. They had been betrayed by black informers during their attempt to set in motion the largest slave rebellion in the history of the United States--an effort astonishing in its level of organization and support. Nine thousand armed slaves and free blacks were to converge on Charleston, set the city aflame, seize the government arsenal, and then murder the entire white population of the city, sparing only the ship captains who would carry Vesey and his followers to Haiti or Africa.

The attempted revolt was a significant episode in American history, yet it, and its leader, have been all but forgotten. In this balanced and gracefully written biography of Vesey--the first in many decades--David Robertson gives us a profile of this extraordinary man. He shows how, by preaching a doctrine of negritude combined with various religious elements, Vesey was able to attract large numbers of blacks to a messianic crusade for freedom. Robertson details the aftermath of the failed revolt, analyzes its social and political consequences, and articulates the essential, disturbing questions it poses to a racially and ethnically pluralistic society today.Amazon.com Review
In 1822, Denmark Vesey, a Caribbean-born free Negro from Charleston, South Carolina, led the largest attempted slave revolt in U.S. history with over 9,000 blacks. Although it failed--thanks to the confessions of a house slave to his master--and Vesey was executed, his heroic attempt continues to be a source of pride for African Americans. David Robertson's well-researched book chronicles Vesey's life as a slave in Haiti, his move to Charleston, his fluency in English, Creole, and French, and his skillful use of Christian teachings (and possibly Islamic ones, as well) to inspire the slaves to rebel. "He was a black man of great physical presence, strength, and intellect," Robertson writes, "linguistically fluent and politically facile enough to mold various African ethnic and religious groups into one unified force." Using court testimony from Vesey's trial and historical archives, Robertson unveils the stark and violent climate of antebellum life in 18th-century America, bringing to life a hero who fought for the same principles upon which the democratic nation in which he was made a slave was founded. --Eugene Holley Jr. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Biased Account
I was often annoyed with the author's inability to write an accurate and even handed account of the Great Denmark Vesey.There are way better books out there.I will continue to search until I find a historian who is fair and isn't afraid to tell it like it was. These myth makers are getting on my last nerves.

The only positive thing I can say is that the author directed me to some other historians, most notable John Hope Franklin.I bet he has done a better job.

Should be required reading for all high school students
I have just finished Denmark Vesey and consider it one of the finest books I've ever had the pleasure to read. David Robertson is an extraordinary and talented author whom I feel deserves national attention. He gives us an extensively researched and scholarly piece of work that should be required reading for every high school student nationwide. I found his narrative both an informative and enlightening journey into the horrors of slavery in the 19th century South. Also well worth mentioning are Mr. Robertson's insights and philosophy which give us all a well needed opportunity to examine our own consciences as to what we have learned from history and how we as a nation still need to work to achieve harmony for all races in an ever growing diverse United States of America. An outstanding book.

Vesey leads the largest slave rebellion in the U.S.
David Robinson attempts to define the life of Denmark Vessey.Since Vessey is little known, and not much has been written about him, this short book attempts to define what motivated Denmark Vessey to try to lead on of the largest slave rebellions.Good background material about Barbados and Charlestown's links with the slave island.One of the previous reviewers called Vessey a Haitan, but his name indicates origin in the Danish Virgin Islands, as Robertson asserts.Because his origin is so obscure, Robertson puffs up what is known and makes it book length.More research could have led to a more interesting book.However Robertson does shed light on an interesting time in U. S. History.

Few Facts, Many Legends
Probably the biggest obstacle to writing a biography of Denmark Vesey is the wealth of rumors and legends and a dearth of facts. All the greater is the loss as Mr. Vesey was a fascinating part of the history of Charleston and the history of this nation. Some of these legends survive even to this day and appear below in some of the reviews. A closer look implies that the plot almost certainly did not include the massacre of all whites in Charleston. Instead any whites seen coming out of their doors in the areas under attack, such as the armory, or seen to be assembling would be killed. Also, there were plans to put fire to parts of Charleston to create greater confusion if need be. These would be strategies necessary to the success of such an insurrection. In fact, the in-depth planning, organization and strategy of this attempted uprising is what sets it apart from other slave revolts in this country. I would strongly suggest reading this book as well as Egerton's to help get a clearer picture of the man and the insurrection.

One very audacious attempt, and the man who led it
The more History I read of this Country the more I seem to read about South Carolina. I am not a concentrated reader of The Civil War, and while South Carolina played key roles in that conflict, it also was the locale ofa number of additional notable events in this Country's History. If I wereto pick one State the approximate vintage of South Carolina, I cannot makea better argument for a single State that was as independently oriented,and that defended its independence from influence outside its borders, anddefended it with even greater passion from any Federal influence. To thevery present, South Carolina has been expressing the same theme through theissue of what Flag they will fly over their Capital, and who the decisionwill be made by. A decision was reached, the flag may no longer fly overthe Capital, but it shall fly not far from it.

Denmark Vesey's birthplaceis unknown contrary to the conflicting commercial reviews. From the book,"It is not confirmable whether Vesey was born in Africa or The WestIndies". If there is a consistent thread through the book, it is howmuch is not known about this man who attempted what would have been amassive Rebellion, Slave in makeup or otherwise composed. This is not tosay the book is not well done, quite the contrary. I believe that thedocumentation achieved by Mr. David Robinson is nothing short of remarkablewhen the effort to destroy all remnants of the rebellion is considered. Thebook loses no credibility because we don't know from what tree he wasexecuted, nor where his body was finally buried. These issues are morelegend than they will ever be fact, but these issues do not change theheart of the event, and the facts of what took place. Even Mr. Vesey'sappearance is unknown except for the most impressionistic of drawings; theman visually is an enigma.

The story as related is brief, 153 pages. Butas evidenced by photographs and 40 pages of notes, the Historical detectivework was clearly done. The Author presents what he knows, makes very littlespeculation, and to the extent he does, he places his feelings in adistinct chapter, "A Personal Conclusion".

Staying away fromthe story so as not to spoil it, there was however an aspect of the Southin 1822 that I had never read about in such detail. There were not 2groups, there were many. Slaves, freed slaves like Mr. Vesey, and verydefined and distinct groups among the black and white Communities. Thedistinctions amongst the people that Vesey wished to lead were the samethat lead to his rebellions defeat.

It is necessarily a brief storyunless more information comes to light. With the material at hand and thedocumentation the Author found, I believe he did a very credible job ofrelating a relatively unknown event in our History.

The question of whatwould have happened had Vesey succeeded, and the implications on thisCountry are not to be found in the book, nor do I believe it would beappropriate for such counter-factual debate to be placed in a Historicalwork. The "what if" scenarios are varied and certainly would havebeen momentous. However History did not take place as Mr. Vesey planned,and the historical record was systematically destroyed to the extentpossible.

What is important is that Denmark Vesey and other leaders likehim take their place in our Historical record. Whether positive, negative,or aborted, events like these must be recounted or our History isincomplete. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a collection of papers presented at the conference New Trends in the History and Philosophy of Mathematics held at the University of Roskilde, Denmark, 6-8 August 1998. The purpose of the meeting was to present some of the new ideas on the study of mathematics, its character and the nature of its development. During the last decades work in history and philosophy of mathematics has led to several new original views on mathematics. Both new methods and angles of study have been introduced, and old views of, say, the nature of mathematical theories and proofs have been challenged.For instance, disciplines as etnohistorical studies of mathematics and the sociology of mathematics have resulted in several new insights, and classical historians of mathematics are also experimenting with new perspectives. In a similar way, philosophy of mathematics has witnessed rather deep changes. Classical foundational studies have been challenged by new broader perspectives. The aim was to provide a forum within which historians of mathematics, philosophers, and mathematicians could exchange ideas and discuss different new approaches in the history and philosophy of mathematics.The book includes papers by Joan Richards, Henk J. M. Bos, Donald MacKenzie, Arthur Jaffe, Jody Azzouni and Paulus Gerdes. It also includes an extended introduction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The development of the modern Danish nation and many of the ways why it is different from the countries south of it
While Denmark has been involved in its share of wars, the nation has avoided the incredible destruction that has repeatedly engulfed the countries to the south. Although Denmark was occupied by the Germans in World War II, the occupation was not as brutal as what happened in other countries. Only an insignificant percentage of the nation's Jewish population was engulfed in the Holocaust. With only minor exceptions, the country was not a battlefield or bombed, so the infrastructure was intact. Even though it is now a small country, there was a time when it was the premier maritime power, with a great navy and merchant fleet.
Like all other nations with a lengthy history, Denmark also has had its share of good rulers and bad rulers, some of which were good, but with bad consequences to their leadership. However, as is the case nearly everywhere, the bad rulers were often catastrophic.
In general an organized society can engage in three actions to obtain the materials it needs to survive. It can be a hunter-gatherer society, living off the land but always operating at the whim of what nature can provide. A second option is to settle in communities and produce agricultural and manufactured products. The third option is to engage in using force against the first two societies, primarily the second and plunder what they have produced.
Despite several centuries of very civilized behavior, there was a time when the Danes largely engaged in the third option. This was the time of the great Viking expeditions that terrorized the coasts of other countries such as England. However, once the Danish people decided to terminate their Viking social strategy, they became a nation of producers.
This book is a detailed explanation of all phases of the Danish nation, starting with the primitive villages that hunted and fished. There is an explanation as to why Denmark avoided the influence of the Roman Empire, how it once ruled all of Norway and Sweden, and the relatively simple way that it avoided the ferocity of the wars of the Reformation. In many ways it is amazing how easily the Catholic Church was replaced by the Protestant faith.
Almost as remarkable is how the social revolutions were managed. When there were blazing gun battles in the streets of other European capitols in 1848 over the role of monarchies in government, a delegation of leading Danish citizens went to the King and demanded a constitution. It was granted. While it took some time to actually write it, there was no bloodshed or serious civil disturbance.
I found this book to be one that kept my attention throughout, while the history of any nation is unique, that of Denmark is particularly different. When change was needed, the people pragmatically executed it in a spirit of reasonableness. While Danish history has the usual periods of violence, in general it is much less vile and destructive than what took place in other countries.
... Read more

Product Description
On the morning of April 9, 1940, Peter Tveskov awoke to the roar of airplanes flying low overhead—more airplanes than he’d ever heard or seen before. The invasion leading to the five-year German occupation of Denmark had begun. The Occupation was a dark and difficult time for the Danish people, but for five-year-old Peter, it was an exciting adventure that would in many ways shape both his future and that of his beloved country.

In Conquered, Not Defeated, Peter Tveskov blends vivid childhood memories with historical fact to tell the story of how the occupying army of the Third Reich tried—and ultimately failed—to crush the customs, will, and spirit of the Danish people. It is a story not often told nor easily forgotten. Includes 12 pages of rare photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Putting a human face to the Danish occupation - a Must Read!
Tveslov's "Conquered, Not Defeated" is a touching look at Denmark during WWII through the eyes of a boy but also with the perception through which the events in that country can be viewed with adult eyes years after the fact.With skill, he takes the reader into the fascinating world of Copenhagen during the war - the occupation and, more importantly, the incredible people who lived and died during that dark period of their history.Theirs is a story worth the telling - and worth the remembering.These true recollections of a middle class boy and his family make the reader realize the profound impact of a war that tore Denmark apart and then united her in ways that no one could foresee."Conquered, Not Defeated" is a testament to the resiliency, the independence and compassion of the Danish spirit, deftly told . . . a story the reader will not soon forget.

Peter Tveskov is a GENIUS!
Conquered, Not Defeated is nothing short of fantastic.Being of Danish descent on both my maternal and paternal sides, I found this book a real and all-encompassing glimpse into the lives of my Scandinavian relatives through Mr. Tveskov.It is difficult to find books on the subject of Danish history which are filled with actual historical accounts from someone who writes with ease of his very own experience.It was a pleasure to delve into this wonderful book and feel as though I were reading Mr. Tveskov's own personal journal of his experience...I am grateful for the anecdotes and historical research he provided so we Danish descendents can truly understand all that Denmark endured during the horrors of WWII.Being affiliated with the Danish Sisterhood, I highly recommend this book to all Scandinavians and anyone interested in WWII history.READ THIS BOOK!

rings true
Coming from a danish family i can tell you that this seemingly simple read really gives a good feel of the times through a childs eye. Mr. Tvestov gives just enough extra information to be able to understand the times in which he grew up in addition to his personal experience.It's also an entertaining, if slightly repetitive read.

Conquered, Not Defeated
Thisis abook I just could not put down once I had started reading it. Tveskov style made easy reading but most importantly, I felt like I was there with him. I can only imagine what it was like to have been with during these times. He wove in Danish history in a way it just blended with this story. It was pointed , acurate, and relevent. The pictures he used brought the story to life adding a gereat deal to the feeling of time it took place. I suggest it would be a great gift for anyone and to me a must read.

Brilliant!Child's-Eye Peak Into Wartime Copenhagen
Some historical nonfiction takes such a broad view as to become pallid and meaningless. Not so in this brilliant memoir, where Tveskov captures the ambiguity, evolution and the outcome of the Danish people to the German occupation during World War II.

Because this is a description by an actual participant in the history as it took place, the reader reaps the extra benefit of true emotions the events stirred. As we follow young Peter bicycling out through Copenhagen to his grandparents' house, the soldiers manning the machine guns behind the barricades are real soldiers with real orders to kill, and yet young Peter is also a real child pedaling a real bicycle through this nightmarish scene. The reader gets to experience this scene through young Peter's eyes.

Balancing the historical with the personal, even-handed in his presentation of thorny issues (such as Danish collaborators with the Germans), exceptionally easy to read for an historical work, Tvreskov offers the reader an entertaining, informative and thorough perspective on a terrible aspect of a terrible war.

Don't miss this one! ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehending A Description Of These Countries; An Account Of The Mythology, Government, Laws, Manners, And Institutions Of The Early Inhabitants; And Of The Present State Of Society, Religion, Literature, Arts, And Commerce, With Illustrations Of Their N ... Read more

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This Liberty Fund edition of "An Account of Denmark", with its related texts, is the first modern edition of Molesworth's writings. This volume presents not only "An Account", a text that for most of the eighteenth century was recognized as one of the canonical works of Whiggism, but also his "Francogallia and Some Considerations for the Promoting of Agriculture and Employing the Poor". Taken in their totality, these important texts encompass Molesworth's major political statements on liberty as well as his important and understudied recommendations for the application of liberty to economic improvement. ... Read more

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The Denmark Vesey slave revolt of 1822 was one of the biggest slave revolts ever planned, involving an estimated 9,000 slaves. The plot was discovered two days before the scheduled uprising. In the aftermath, over 100 slaves were arrested and 35 slaves were executed, one of which was Gullah Jack Pritchard. He recruited his fello Angolan countrymen by promising them protection with the magic charms he distributed. His cunning, persuasion and knowledge of African religion induced many to enlist in the ill-fated revolt. This work details the importance of Gullah Jack in the insurrection. ... Read more

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This anthology indicates the many and multi-layered ways in which women's movements have developed over the past and the challenges faced by the women's movements today. Covering a broad range of issues, the book strives for re-narration and re-location of one of the major social movements of the 20th century and fresh analysis of the latest trends. The anthology points to the importance of strategic generalisations of gender. The women's movements are seen as forming a wide range of discursive communities that have gradually unfolded at the global level during the 20th century. The volume invites readers to recognise the integrated nature of research, reflection and contextualisation and is a manifestation of the links between women's movements and gender studies as well as the struggle of coming to terms with new challenges and new interpretations. ... Read more

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As the Scandinavian nations rarely participated in warfare during the 20th century, little has been written about their armed forces. However, they have employed formidable forces in many wars, as this study demonstrates. The volume includes discussion of: prehistoric warriors, Vikings; wars between Denmark and Sweden; the Thirty Years War; the Great Northern War; the Russo-Swedish Wars; the German Confederation reduces Denmark; the dilemma of World War I; the invasion of Scandinavia in 1940; the Russo-Finnish Wars; Sweden mobilizes for four invasion threats; the Scandinavians fight with the Allies and Axis; and postwar Scandinavia armed forces. There are photographs and illustrations of weapons and uniforms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent!
This is an outstanding look at Scandinavian military prowess.Very impressive and seems to be very complete and well researched.Highly recommended for all students of military history or Scandinavians who just need a dose of pride! ... Read more

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We are now familiar with the Three Age System, the archaeological partitioning of the past into Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. This division, which amounted at the time to a major scientific revolution, was conceived in Denmark in the 1830s. Peter Rowley-Conwy investigates the reasons why the Three Age system was adopted without demur in Scandinavian archaeological circles, yet was the subject of a bitter and long-drawn-out contest in Britain and Ireland, up to the 1870s. ... Read more

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This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing’s Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more