The World in 1800

In the "World in 1800" Mr. Bernier covers a majority of the planet in a comprehensive, but informative manner. While there is much here for history buffs, the book could be entertaining for any reader. I am writing a book, in which the period he speaks of will cover, and I found plenty of information I needed. What made the read enjoyable though was the author's ability to put the reader in the situation he discussed; his descriptions made me feel like I was in the locales he described. At the same time he provided in depth information about his subjects that I had not seen elsewhere; his coverage of Napolean in particular covered old ground from a very fresh perspective. Anyone even the slightest bit interested in history and even those who generally are not, will find this book easy to read cover to cover in a short period.

In 1800, most people were living in the same manner as their ancestors had for countless generations. This was a time of open-air market stalls, overcrowded cities, a leisured nobility, with the majority of men and women living in subsistence rural villages. In The World In 1800, author and historian Olivier Bernier provides the contemporary reader with a comprehensive, vividly portrayed, compelling description of those times that were on the very brink of radical changes that would establish the modern world. The forces of European warfare, industrial revolution, global mercantilism, and more, would revolutionize the politics, economics, and daily lives of people around the world. The World In 1800 is a gripping, informative, illuminating, at times fascinating history that will be appreciated by both the history student and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the historical development of our modern day, globalized cultures and commerce.

I found this book to be at times heavy, however at the end of each chapter gained a feeling of satisfaction that I understood our forebears in different parts of the world a liitle bit better. Starting with Europe and the UK, moving to the USA and then off to the less "explored" parts of the world was probably a fairly sound chronological approach however as a criticism I found the depth of treatment seemed to reduce the further we got from away from UK, Europe and the formative America, culminating in what I found very superficial treatments of India and Africa, with more emphasis on the habits of their european invaders than on the cultures of the countries themselves.However the above aside, it's well worth a read if you want to understand this period a little better than you do now.

Overall this was an interesting view of the world and events in 1800. The author takes the reader across Europe, between the warring nations of France, England, Austria, Prussia and Russia, and then onto the America's. He continues the journey into China, Japan, India, the Ottoman Empire and finishes in Africa. The author, Olivier Bernier introduces us to the leaders, people, customs, art, cities and life of the inhabitants of these countries. Although the book is about 450 pages, in reality he can only offer us an interesting overview of these people and places. In no manner is this an in-depth account but it is an enjoyable story none the less. The main theme of the book, I think, is to show how the world was becoming smaller, that the countries were in fact linked in one manner or another. That event's in Revolutionary France could have an impact on the inhabitants and events in furthermost Africa. It was interesting to read of Napoleon and his campaigns (in brief) and find out that at the same time what was happening in the United States, or in Peru, Brazil or China. I would have liked a few more pictures and maps and at times I did find that the narrative bogged down but overall this was a very enjoyable piece of historical writing. I think that anybody that enjoys a decent history book without too many facts and figures should enjoy this book.

An excellent read! As a teacher of world history I find this book to be a excellent vehicle for introducing readers to a world with which we can still vaguely identify. The political institutions that Americans once cherished blossom in their infancy on the pages of Bernier's book. As the Enlightenment ideas of freedom and equality spread from the cultured palors of 18th century France to eventually influence the world, it was facinating to see them clash with the realities of war, poverty and slavery. From Europe to the Americas to Asia then finally Africa, Oliver Bernie takes detailed snap shots of culture and civilization in the world of 1800. What we are left with is a brilliant collage of humanity in the age of revolution at the end of the 18th Century.