A Concise History of Switzerland (Cambridge Concise Histories)

These authors have written an absorbing text on the development of Switzerland. The land the Swiss have created for themselves is simply fascinating and this book tells that story in a clear, easy-to-follow narrative. It answers questions, such as: How did a confederation of republics even manage to stay independent when flanked by belligerent monarchies? How did such a confederation even manage to develop in an era of feudal princes and bishoprics? This book adds a meaningful volume to the slim English-language record of scholarly work on Switzerland.

If you want to know about the history of Switzerland, this is probably the best short book. The overall European historical context is mentioned only when it is relevant to Switzerland, which leaves us with a somehow partial view, but the history of the country is explained in good detail and with an even-minded approach. The author writes with an agreeable narrating style The description up to the XIX century could be a little more detailed, but it could definitely be less detailed when dealing with the intricacies of post-WWII Swiss politics.

Having come through two world wars, the Great Depression, and the Arab oil embargo unscathed, and boasting one of the highest degrees of prosperity in the world, the Swiss are perhaps justified in believing that they have gotten it right while the rest of the world has gone to hell. Yet, as the author notes, the development of Switzerland is unique and cannot be a model for other countries. This was a good book that got better toward the end when it began to cover the modern era, as it traces the aspects of Swiss history that made the country uniquely peaceful and prosperous in a turbulent world. Switzerland certainly seems attractive as an alternative place to settle; I wonder if there is a seamier side to this country that the book neglected to cover.

Well organised and clear, given the complex nature of the subject and in particular the tensions within the Confederation as it evolved. An interesting aspect is how the authors put into perspective the mythical elements of Swiss history and the way in which these have become woven into the received narrative of modern Switzerland.

Written by two English scholars, the study is comprehensive, but a bit cool in tone. There is a somewhat laborious effort to downplay the popular notion of Swiss exclusiveness and occasionally there is a PC whopper such as the suggestion that the witch hunt rage in the late Middle Ages was an effort to offset the "power" of women, when it was a transnational religious fanaticism inspired in part by the Reformation. Overall, though, the book manages to cover over 1,000 years of Swiss history in some detail in a text that is balanced and informative. The physical package is attractive, downsized, and runs to about 400 pages. The Swiss were and are unique, mostly in positive ways, with a genius for cooperation, tolerance, and collaboration, despite having four languages and a multi-ethnic population.

I am moving to Switzerland this September and this book help me, in a concise way, to understand how Switzerland is structured. It also help me to understand the current political situation and solved many questions that I had.

"A concise History of Switzerland" is a great read on the struggles and adversities the people of Switzerland overcame in order to form a nation. Despite four separate languages, the divisions of the reformation, democracy and oligarchies and several European and world wars the people of all the separate Swiss Cantons united to form a direct democracy that began in 1291 and has lasted until today. Inspired by the Constitution of the United States the Swiss formed their own Constitution modeled on the principles of freedom and self governance. A great reminder that all men everywhere yearn to live and be free.

Good introduction to Swiss history. It doesn’t go into extreme detail on many of the topics, but still provides the reader with the big issues and events that have led Switzerland to its current state.