Onésimo Díaz Hernández, researcher of the University of Navarra, has published Historia del mundo en el siglo XX a través de las grandes biografías, novelas y películas, a book that closes a trilogy that began in 2008 with a history of Europe in the 20th century and continued in 2010 with a History of Spain in the 20th century.

This work, published by publishing house Base, aims to bring the reader closer to the main events of the last century through references and mentions to biographies (of Lenin, Hitler, Churchill, Stalin, Mao, Gorbachev, Reagan, John Paul II, Mandela, etc.), novels (of Ginzburg, Grossman, Némorosky, Márai, Pasternak, Steinbeck, McEwan, etc.), novels (by Ginzburg, Grossman, Némorosky, Márai, Pasternak, Steinbeck, McEwan, etc.) and representative films (by Greengrass, Scorsese, Kubrick, Chaplin, Capra, Rossellini, Yimou, Wenders, etc.).  

The book summarizes the most relevant events and analyzes the roles played by the major figures. According to the author, "we are still suffering the consequences of the First World War, despite the fact that one hundred years have passed since its beginning".

The essay ends with a chapter graduate "The Postmodern and Global World" in which he concludes that the current economic crisis and the conflicts in Muslim countries are not reasons for hope. However, this expert believes that "the greatest threat does not come from wars or crises, but from historical ignorance".

History of the world in the 20th century through great biographies, novels and films "does not offer a Catalog of titles of novels and films, but rather an agile and entertaining narration that leads to reflection on what happened and why that event happened and not something else," explains Onésimo Díaz. "In the final, the aim is to know how to appreciate the great biographies of the protagonists of the 20th century and to invite people to read good novels and watch quality films," he adds.

Onésimo Díaz, who holds a doctorate in Contemporary History from the University of the Basque Country and a doctorate in Theology (Church History) from the University of the Holy Cross in Rome, is a historian and priest. He currently works as Deputy Director of the Documentation Center and programs of study Josemaría Escrivá of the University of Navarra.