★★★★★ 4
Interesting book, dull period
Format: Paperback
As a Marxist historian, Hobsbawm sees the world at this time, as well as the modern world, as a playground for the forces of capitalism. He apologizes for taking a eurocentric approach to world history, while acknowledging that Europe largely determined the course of world events during this period. In spite of the title, there actually isn't much discussion of colonial empires; Hobsbawm seems more interested in how the Age of Empire affected the rulers more than the ruled. His Marxist sympathies are in evidence and at times make his conclusions a bit predictable, but some of his cultural critiques are quite brilliant. The chapter on the dilemmas posed by modern science is exceptional. Reading a book like this seems to me much more interesting than actually living in this period would have been.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2014
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