The very idea of the book is fascinating and it is very well done. It provides quite a different perspective of the 17th century because of its slice-of-life approach, making history far more personal than it usually is. To help with the immediacy of the book I would have appreviated a timeline of the events of the year; it would have helped me track the relations between events. Some idea of when the focus events of the year were known about in the wider world would also have helped. These are, however, more a reflection of my laziness as a reader and did not detract from the excellent experience of the book.

1688 a Global History: John E Wills, History/Renaissance TPB Near new An epic and fascinating book. "Dazzlingly original... His book is arranged like a journey... it snakes around the world, touching most continents, traversing most seas... spending time serendipitously, but always meeting people and encountering events of the same year. He chose the year 1688 for its irresistible stories, The effect is fascinating, entertaining, instructive and teeming with delights." 1600's Africa Australia Buddhism California Cartography China Dampier Glorious Revolution History -General Islam Japan Leibniz Netherlands Newton Peter The Great Russia Science Sun King Versailles History-General) History Renaissance History Modern 17th Century History, Modern Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 17th century