Kershaw returns to twentieth century Europe for Personality and Power but widening his scope a little more than the German and Hitler focused work for which he’s known. Here he’s interested in exploring and laying to rest the Great Man theory of history. Under this theory attributed to Thomas Carlyle, the course of history is driven by “highly influential and unique individuals who, due to their natural attributes, such as superior intellect, heroic courage, extraordinary leadership abilities or divine inspiration, have a decisive historical effect.” Kershaw looks at twelve Great Leaders from twentieth century Europe to find whether their greatness shaped history or if their greatness allowed them to ride out the underlying forces occurring during their time in power. To be clear, these twelve are exceptional leaders; Kershaw doesn’t deny that. But what makes the difference between them and other European leaders from the twentieth century? Kershaw posits that it’s the exceptional preconditions that allows these exceptional leaders to exercise their own power. The twelve leaders are Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Francisco Franco, Konrad Adenauer, Josip Broz Tito, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Helmut Kohl. Kershaw has chosen a balance of dictators and democratic leaders that had outsized effect on the history of Europe. Some may be more well known than others, but each shaped the course of their nations and the world in specific ways.

Each leader gets a chapter examining their rise to and acquisition of power. Kershaw isn’t writing mini-biographies. Plenty of those exist outside this work. Instead, he focuses on the path to power for each individual, choosing specific moments rather than the entire life story. He provides context for those moments as well that indicate whether the leader had power firmly in hand or if circumstances were precarious. For example, Mussolini’s rise to power often meant appeasing the fascist groups that he supposedly led, and their in-fighting allowed him to stay atop the chaotic group. Each chapter builds upon his thesis, with an excellent conclusion. However, it isn’t necessary to read each chapter in order. I do recommend it for the first read because it builds elegantly towards the conclusion. His inclusion of Helmut Kohl, the last case study, works against the great man theory and shores up Kershaw’s thesis. Kohl isn’t the historical great figure that the rest of these leaders are. He is a politician and, by all evidence, a good one, who had greatness thrust upon him in order to re-integrate East and West Germany into a whole state. By reading about all the other leaders and then coming to Kohl’s chapter, Kershaw makes the case that it was unique circumstances that allowed these leaders to shine. Upon my own reread, I’ll probably skip around chapters and read out of order. I’m glad I went through in Kershaw’s intended order first, though.

Personality and Power is a brick of a history book. I read an electronic copy, but Edelweiss is saying it’s 512 pages long. Each chapter is packed with information and analysis. Kershaw is and remains one of my favorite writers in the History field. His writing is clear and concise without resembling a transcribed lecture. His writing is able to make me want to learn more about historical figures that previously I didn’t care about (Mussolini) or even know (Adenauer and Kohl). Kershaw makes history interesting, and he’s at peak form in Personality and Power.