Europe has been an extraordinarily successful continent for two millennia. In this stunning new book, Simon Jenkins narrates the story of its evolution from a battlefield of warring tribes to a place of peace, wealth, and freedom - a story that begins with ancient Greece and Rome, passes through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the French Revolution, reaches the two World Wars, and concludes in the present day. Jenkins references various personalities, from Julius Caesar and Joan of Arc to Wellington and Angela Merkel, and from Aristotle to Shakespeare and Picasso. He focuses on diverse themes, from youthful ambitions and religious conflicts to geographical constraints and invasions, and weaves them all into a chronological narrative, full of authority but also personal color. Europe, despite continuous upheavals, has left an indelible mark on the world. How did such a small continent become so powerful? How did all these peninsulas and islands manage over time to develop a collective consciousness? How did diplomacy so often end in bloodshed and what are the consequences of this today? Despite Europe's significant position in politics, economics, and culture, until now there has been no concise book to tell its story. The portrait Jenkins sketches could not be more timely - or more masterful.