[Xmca-l] Re: Hitler's World by T. Snyder

[Huw Lloyd]

On 16 September 2015 at 13:55, Peter Smagorinsky <smago@uga.edu> wrote:

> Can't tell a book by its title. Snyder's got a ton of relatively recently
> released historical archival material that Tolstoy didn't have available.
>

I thought the argument was quite clear, Peter.  Does Snyder address "the
connection existing between these men (Hitler, Stalin) and the movement of
the nations"?

Huw


>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xmca-l-bounces+smago=uga.edu@mailman.ucsd.edu [mailto:
> xmca-l-bounces+smago=uga.edu@mailman.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of Huw Lloyd
> Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 8:35 AM
> To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Hitler's World by T. Snyder
>
> The titles don't communicate "essential reading".  Perhaps one should
> consider the argument fluently expressed by Tolstoy first?  The extract
> below is from the second epilogue to Tolstoy's War and Peace (
> http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/pdfs/free_ebooks/War_and_Peace_NT.pdf)
>
> "If the purpose of history be to give a description of the movement of
> humanity and of the peoples, the first question- in the absence of a reply
> to which all the rest will be incomprehensible- is: what is the power that
> moves peoples? To this, modern history laboriously replies either that
> Napoleon was a great genius, or that Louis XIV was very proud, or that
> certain writers wrote certain books.
>
> All that may be so and mankind is ready to agree with it, but it is not
> what was asked. All that would be interesting if we recognized a divine
> power based on itself and always consistently directing its nations through
> Napoleons, Louis-es, and writers; but we do not acknowledge such a power,
> and therefore before speaking about Napoleons, Louis-es, and authors, we
> ought to be shown the connection existing between these men and the
> movement of the nations."
>
> Best,
> Huw
>
> On 16 September 2015 at 11:14, Peter Smagorinsky <smago@uga.edu> wrote:
>
> > I've read two of Snyder's books and think he's one sharp guy. Bloodlands:
> > Europe between Hitler and Stalin is essential reading.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xmca-l-bounces+smago=uga.edu@mailman.ucsd.edu [mailto:
> > xmca-l-bounces+smago=uga.edu@mailman.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of David
> > xmca-l-bounces+Preiss
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 11:00 PM
> > To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> > Subject: [Xmca-l] Hitler's World by T. Snyder
> >
> > Colleagues,
> > This brilliant essay will interest many of you, David
> >
> > http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2015/sep/24/hitlers-world/
> >
> >
>
>