Promotional Information

The question 'what if?' has always fascinated historians. Richard J. Evans imagines what could have been, and how alternate pasts could have shaped alternate futures.

About the Author

Sir Richard J. Evans is Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University. His previous books include In Defence of History, Telling Lies about Hitler, The Coming of the Third Reich, The Third Reich at War and The Third Reich in Power.

Reviews

Unfailingly interesting -- Andrew Holgate * Sunday Times *
A stimulating, thought-provoking and in places quite humorous book that will be of interest to professional and lay readers alike * Times Higher Education Supplement *
His critique is eloquent and lively, without rancour or cruelty -- Felipe Fernandez-Armesto * The Times *
Characteristically pugnacious -- Jonathan Derbyshire * Prospect *
Evans is at his best when dissecting the motives of right-wing thinkers * SFX *
Wide-ranging polemic . . . Evans is at his best on questions of historical causation . . . Altered Pasts brings an impressive historical intelligence to bear on what are too often dismissed as parlour games * Sunday Telegraph *
Evans is ruthless, forensic and totally convincing in demolishing this pretext, finding instead an even greater determinism, where the autonomous actions of a handful of great men set in motion enormous, immutable forces * Guardian *
The place of Richard Evans in modern historiography - a distinguished place - is assured * Times Literary Supplement *
One of the most important and prolific historians of our time . . . Altered Pasts provides much food for thought, not only for professional historians but also for general readers interested in how and why history is written in certain ways. Intelligent, lucid and engaging * Irish Times *
A good read, which stimulates further reflection about the nature of history * Financial Times *
Evans's book is an excellent contribution to thinking about this playful type of historical investigation * Evening Standard *