A History of Europe: From the Reformation to the Present Day
Ferdinand Schevill
📚 Genre
Non-fiction, History, Academic History
🏢 Publisher
Harcourt, Brace and Company
📅 Publication Year
1940 (This edition); original work first published circa 1925
🔢 ISBN
Not applicable (Pre-ISBN era)
About This Book
A comprehensive historical survey of European political, social, and cultural evolution from the 16th-century Reformation through the mid-20th century. Written by a prominent Professor of Modern History at the University of Chicago, it serves as an analytical narrative of the rise of nation-states, the Enlightenment, and the catastrophic world wars.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
Approximately 800-850 pages
Edition
Revised Edition (likely the 1940 update following the start of WWII)
Series
Not part of a series
Target Audience
Academic, Students, and Historians
Collector Information
Condition
Good/Very Good. The title page shows mild age-toning (yellowing) consistent with 1940s acidic paper, but the text block remains clean. No visible foxing or water damage on the displayed page.
Estimated Value
$20-$45 USD
Rarity
Uncommon. While not 'rare' in the sense of a museum piece, physical copies of the 1940 edition in good condition are becoming harder to find as many were used as university textbooks and worn out or discarded.
Historical Significance
Ferdinand Schevill was a noted historian of the Chicago school; his work was a standard text for understanding European development during the interwar and early WWII period. It represents the 'Great Man' and political narrative approach to history prevalent in the mid-20th century.
Collector Notes
Collectors should look for the presence of the original dust jacket, which significantly increases value. Check for the completeness of fold-out mapping. Values for Schevill remain stable but specialized; academic history collectors prize this edition for its contemporary perspective on Europe just as it entered the 1940s conflict.
Similar Books
A History of Western Society by John P. McKay; The Rise of Modern Europe series by William L. Langer; Europe in the Central Middle Ages by Christopher Brooke.
Notable Features
Includes maps and genealogical tables typical of mid-century Harcourt history texts; internal 1940 date indicator on title page.