A Remarkable, Integrated View of the Nineteenth Century Timeline 1800–1899 by Dianne L. Durante is an ambitious and exceptionally well-organized reference work that brings the nineteenth century to life. Rather than treating history as a succession of wars, rulers, and political events, Durante shows how developments in politics, economics, science, technology, philosophy, religion, literature, architecture, painting, sculpture, and music influenced one another. In this respect, the book reminds me of Will and Ariel Durant’s monumental The Story of Civilization . The most important similarity is their integrated view of history. Both reject the idea that history consists merely of political milestones. A scientific discovery, philosophical argument, novel, economic theory, painting, or musical composition can be as historically revealing as a battle or an election. That is a defining quality of the Durants’ work. They move continually among governments, religions, philosophical moveme...