There are those who are fans of the long book (C.S. Lewis was one). I'm a fan of the short book. These books are short. They're also small: they fit in your pocket. But they're also illustrated, and since the print is a bit smaller than the usual 10 or 12 point font, you really get a rather larger book. I'm quite excited about the whole series, because I like nothing better than delving into a small book (and am a fan of the essay for that reason). But, of course, as all the books are by different authors and on different subjects, as with say, the Everyman Books series, each must be considered on its own.



This one, to my mind, is particularly good, and not nearly so limited as the title might suggest. It doesn't get bogged down in endless squabbles as to what the definition of "fascism" might be, but rather delves right into history. That history, as most people have at least a vague idea, has to do with the causes and effects of the first world war, as well as the second, the Third Reich in Germany, as well as the Weimar republic (sp.), Hitler's early persecution of Catholics, Jews, Communists and Socialists long before he was established as a leader in Germany, the Soviet encouragement of pogroms against the Jews, Mussolini's shift from a socialist to a fascist (such as it was), Henry VIII's seizure of the Catholic Church to create the Church of England, and a great deal more (more on this last in Empire: A Very Short Introduction). If any of that excites even a passing interest, here's a book that puts faces to the names and tells the stories behind the storefronts.

In the age of soundbites, film clips and biopics, this series may well bring back the pleasure of reading, and especially the pleasure of reading non-fiction, and of, dare I say it, getting smarter. Having not read all of the series, which is increasing at a prolific rate, I nevertheless can highly recommend this one.

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