What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I believe this book was published before 2000, as I remember reading it as a child. The book consisted of ~20 short stories, with each story coming from a different century, and the stories being listed in chronological order (i.e.: the book started with a story from the 1st century, ending with a story from the 21st century). One of the stories, I remember, was about a lacemaker's apprentice who met Marie Antoinette. Each of these fictional short stories would have a concluding paragraph, detailing historical facts about the significant event of that century. In the case of the story with the lacemaker's apprentice, it discussed the French Revolution.

There was also a story about a human sacrifice, though I'm not sure which century it corresponded to. This story was told from the perspective of (I think) a chieftain's son, who attends a big feast with all the clans. Due to some famine or illness or something, there is a need for stronger blood to be sacrificed, so in the end the father volunteers as a sacrifice?

I don't remember much else about this book, but I'm having a really hard time remembering the title, and my Google searches are coming up empty.

Centuries of Stories, edited by Wendy Cooling? I think the Marie Antoinette / lacemaker story is 'Toinette' by Adèle Geras.

Description of Centuries of Stories by Wendy Cooling - Becca's suggestion - found on eBay:

"An anthology of twenty specially commissioned stories from top children's authors, each story set against the background of one of the last twenty centuries. Twenty specially commissioned stories by the best contemporary writers for children to celebrate the last 2000 years: Michael Morpurgo, Henrietta Branford, Vivian French, Jean Ure, Robert Swindells, Mary Hoffman, Annie Dalton, Melvin Burgess, Gillian Cross, Alan Durant, Theresa Bresling, Bernard Ashley, Jenny Nimmo, Geraldine McCaughrean, Pete Johnson, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeremy Strong, Adele Geras, Malorie Blackman and Margaret Mahy. Each story is fictional but set against the background of one particular time and place in one century. Settings are worldwide, and include England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, China, America and Africa. Story themes range from the Crucifixtion to Space Exploration; Romans in Britain to the Mongols in China; Irish saints to medieval monks; the Vikings, Saxons as well as elves, fairies and giants. A range of genre from humour to fantasy make this a brilliantly balanced collection with something to suit every taste. Gripping -often scintillating, sometimes uncompromising -- aimed at the 10 plus age group, by today's finest authors. Specially commissioned by Wendy Cooling, a highly respected and well-known anthologist. This collection promises to be around for years to come and will be a treasured gift for adults and children alike."