Book suggestions: 18th century world history

by MrPoontastic

Hello historians. I have recently become enamored with the 18th century. I've read a couple books of various events, however everything is so intertwined I was hoping to step back and get a broader view to hopefully gain a better understanding of how every empire was involved. I'd like to start early in the 18th century, go over the French Indian War, the troubles and pressures this caused in both Europe and the America's. Then the American revolution, spreading to the various skirmishes in Europe and French revolution(s), including Napoléon expansion of French land and the alliances this forced other nations to make.

I understand that this is a tall order and the book I am seeking may not actually exist - however I figured if it does, you all would know!

erejp

Regarding the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, a very classical read in France is the two part biography Bonaparte and Napoléon by André Castelot. Looking online it has been translated to English. I would also recommend the biography of Talleyrand by E. de Waresquiel which is a major reference here (does not seem to have been translated to English, unfortunately). A History of the French Revolution by Jules Michelet is also a major reference (written a few decades after the main events, Michelet had access to eyewitnesses to some events). It seems to have been translated to English.

I'll allow myself just a simple remark on your question : do remember that XVIIIth century events on the American continent seemed to most contemporaries a sideshow of main events on the European theater. Due to the nationality mix of reddit users, lots of questions on this subreddit tend to consider that US History was at the center of world events during the XVIIIth and XIXth century and may put emphasis on events such as the US Independence War, or the French Indian War or the War of 1812 exceeding the relevance they had to their contemporaries in Europe (and to the history of warfare). For example when you mention the "French Indian War" it is not even named as a specific war in French historiography (despite its name) and simply considered one of the theaters (and not the main one) of the Seven Year War.

It arguably wasn't until the Civil War (at least) that US events were intensely studied overseas. To exemplify this, the quintessential writings on this period of the history of the US (for example Tocqueville, or the memories of the marquis de Lafayette) would stress a lot more the peculiar aspects of the US national life and the consequences of their democratic constitution on habits and attitudes.