This is an excellent, balanced and well-written account of Europe's notorious dictators. In particular, the section on Spain presents a subtle yet diverse portrait of the country's tormented experience under General Franco. Antonio Cazorla Sanchez, Trent University, Canada Lee's book provides a comprehensive and chronologically-driven narrative of events ... Read morewhile also engaging in the comparative study of fascism and comparative dictatorships. It is not all about theory and the conceptual status of `fascism' and `communism', and thus is a better introduction for students who may be new to the area of study. Julie V. Gottlieb, University of Sheffield, UK The book's strength is its truly comprehensive overview of the history of dictatorships in twentieth-century Europe, while also providing a theoretical framework for understanding that history. Its rigorous comparative approach helps to make sense of the larger phenomenon. David G. Tompkins, Carleton College, USA My students have found Lee's book to be a superb entree to scholarly understanding of the dictatorships. The book is very accessibly written but does not shy away from complex issues: the historiographic and theoretical discussions shine. I have particularly liked the breadth of Lee's survey and the new edition carries this further, with its separate chapters on Spain and the effect of the dictatorships on the smaller democratic countries around them. Christopher Burton, University of Lethbridge, Canada Show Less