Europe has been an extraordinarily successful continent for two millennia. In this remarkable new book, Simon Jenkins tells the story of its evolution from a battleground of warring tribes to a place of peace, wealth, and freedom – a story that starts from ancient Greece and Rome, passes through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the French Revolution, reaches the two World Wars, and ends in the present day. Jenkins refers to 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 topics, from youthful ambitions and religious conflicts to geographical constraints and invasions, and ties them all together in 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, economy, and culture, no concise book had been written to tell its story until now. The portrait Jenkins sketches could not be more timely – or more masterful.