I'm an English major; as you may know, oftentimes, it is valuable to connect a work of literature with its historical context (either the context in which the author wrote it or the setting for the work itself). That being said, I'm hopeful that someone can point me to some good history texts that are neither too general—a book on the history I would have learned in high school, nor too specific e.g. a book on the Punic Wars. Having taken in a few college history courses, I have a moderate feel for history; I want/need more. An example of the historical knowledge I lack: I was required to read Conrad's Heart of Darkness; I knew very little of the Congo Free State or King Leopold.
Any texts that will expound on continental/political movements such as imperialism and the like, while giving sufficient historical exposition would be ideal.
Hmm, I would suggest This is China: The First 5000 Years by Haiwang Yuang, History of Russia by Vernadsky, Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years, Ecological Imperialism by Alfred Crosby, Imagined Communities by Benedict Anderson and the Fate of Africa by Martin Meredith.
I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but I always try to recommend these books to anyone interested in history: "The Third Reich Trilogy" by Richard J. Evans. The 3 books go into detail about the climate before and during Nazism. It's a great series to read not only for historical knowledge but also because it shows how easily people are willing to give up so many human rights and such for a better life when things are terrible and at the expense of others. It's not only about history, but also about the human mind, thought, and society. It also goes into the politics of the German Empire, Weimar Republic, and Nazi Germany, as well as their imperialistic ideals and the reasoning for them. I don't know if this is what you're looking for, if it interests you, or if it's too specific (it's a lot more than you'd get from any history class), but I thought I'd recommend it.