Customer Reviews

In Europe: Travels Through the Twentieth Century

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is almost in the unputdownable category, with the additional pleasure of its capacity to be dived into at any chapter, or to be savoured chapter at a time. Mak's personal travels through the countries that now comprise Europe throughout 1999 bring to his research a somewhat mordant contemporary tone to his impressions. I can, from travels this year, certainly confirm the mood he paints of Istanbul, Chatting there with expat Poles, Hungarians, Bulgarians and Romanians only spread the paint wider, not thinner. The book's historical aspect, much of it new to this reader, whatever arguments might be fussed over with the details, are unlikely to be challenged. Much of the regions have received their specific historical treatment by other authors, and Mak acknowledges his readings. But few writers have presented the broad picture with such verve.

I did not choose this book. It was presssed upon me by a very intelligent friend. "Well," I thought, "I'm not
sure that even an intelligent friend is worth trusting for an 800 page history of Europe in the twentieth century."

Oh, was I wrong. The book is a stupendous achievement. Truly, can one think of another book (in only 800
short pages) that is able to contain a complete century, and all the countries, of Europe? And he does it with
an artist's eye. Lord, how well this man can write. I reach out to you, to whoever has happened upon this
review, and urge you to buy this book. i read it through just as I would have a novel, and plan on re-reading
it straight through again. Take the plunge. You won't be sorry.

Geert Mak's book is a masterpiece. It's not a complete and exhaustive account of the 20th Century in Europe, instead it reads in the form of a travelogue as Mak visits some of the significant places upon which events took place, for example Sarajevo and Berlin. It's not a dry and dusty recounting of facts, instead it's a warm and readable insight into some of the people and events which were so pivotal for the history of Europe. Somehow he is able to find vignettes of events which illustrate the whole, interviewing people who, although unnoticed players in history, have their own insight into the events and their own experiences of how things affected them.

What's outstanding about this book is the quality of the writing (and the translation too). Mak is able to distil complex events into fascinating pieces of writing and he regularly personalises situations that otherwise could seem too vague. I was particularly moved by the chapters on the First World War where he quoted various young men who were part of the fighting on both sides and showed that, for the individuals involved in the war, events were seen very differently from those in overall charge.

In this book Mak often quotes short phrases in German which aren't translated and could cause some trouble for those who don't speak German; however most other languages have some kind of translation where they occur.

This is a very big book and it's not something that you want to read through continuously. However I found myself dipping into it on a regular basis, 3-4 chapters at a time, and I always enjoyed it. There's a lot of history in Mak's book of which I was previously unaware, such as Lenin's return by train to Russia, and I was continually amazed that one man could have put the work together and could weave the threads of events into coherent wholes. There are few illustrations in this book (mainly maps showing his travels in each section of the book) but his wordsmith craft paints vivid enough pictures to make this book well worth the reading and a genuine triumph.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Good lord, how awful to have been a European in the 20th century! That, at least, is the impression I have come away with having just finished Geert Mak's "In Europe: Travels Through the Twentieth Century." Just before the turn of the century, Mak set out across Europe, sending home reports from dozens of towns and cities across the continent. The result is part history, part travelogue (at a ratio of about 2:1 I'd say).

But what a slog it is! Mak's Europe is a never-ending succession of war, massacre, pogram, repression, rebellion, alienation and revolution. Fair enough, you think: the 20th century was the world's bloodiest, and the slaughter must be addressed. But it all becomes a bit repetitive and navel-gazing. Even after the bloody first half of the century is covered (which takes up nearly two-thirds of the book) and Europe's fortunes dramatically improved, Mak decides to focus on the darkest corners of the continent: there are reports from Franco's Spain, Belfast during the troubles, Chernobyl, Srebrenica. This is an unceasingly bleak picture: none of the light and life of Europe comes through here. We get no hint of the outpourings of culture, the scientific advances, the happy times -- Mak's Europe is all tragedy, no triumph.

Mak's writing is fine, though I think he's a better history writer than travel writer: his travel writing falls into the category of being a little too introspective and symbol-heavy for its own good. Mak constantly seems to be meeting people and seeing things that are just a little too poetic for them to be completely credible.

All in all a decent book, but one that I will not be reading again, and a little too monochromatic in its outlook for me to full-heartedly recommend to other people.

I am currently taking a course in European 20th Century History and was assigned this text. We were also assigned a textbook by Bonnie Smith. The latter is truly a textbook whilst Mak's is an enjoyable book. Many of my classmates have commented on how much they enjoy reading Mak and some have ceased reading Bonnie smith altogether.

I have found his rich narration and happy departure from the stale literature one has come to expect in history. There are instances where he illustrates what it means to feel diminished such as being in front of the European Parliament building. He can make the Vienna of Hitler's youth come alive. He can breath life into people who are usually treated as nothing more than stand-ins for the real thing. In the chapter dealing with the assassination that started the mess that nearly consumed all of the 20th Century, he somehow gives a whole new dimension not just to Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie but also their assassin, Gavrilo Princip.

This Temporal Travelogue is truly unique. I have never read anything like it. It has inspired me to look at time, space, people and ideas in whole new organic light. It is fascinating beyond all description.

Yes, I know. From any description, it sounds boring.
Yet, try to put it down, I dare you.

Call it millennial fever or itchy feet, whatever it was, it sent Dutch writer Geert Mak traipsing across Europe in 1999, in search of understanding. The result? A mammoth account of the continent during one of its most eventful and destructive centuries - part personal odyssey, historical narrative and sociological survey. He was just in time to be able to track down and interview eyewitnesses to almost every dramatic moment he describes and to set it all down in powerful, compelling prose. In Europe is a great read, but it is not without flaws. Mak has his own demons to slay along the way. But that's OK, the book is big enough (in every sense of the word) to allow the reader to skip the bits that irritate and still find more than enough to enjoy and much that will be new and interesting to even the most dedicated scholar of European history. It is written as a series of "snapshots" capturing the mood of key localities at critical moments. His research and reach are impressive and the stories he captures, whether heartfelt or shocking, almost always memorable. Read it all at once, or in bite sized chunks, you won't be disappointed.

I'm just an ordinary person who loves history and this book did not disappoint. I learned more from Geert Mak than in all my courses through grad school. The personal interviews and diaries and first-person accounts make such a grand scope so personal. I wish everyone could read this book because it puts so much perspective on the world we live in. On a personal note, the book is also great for making you thankful to live in a peaceful and prosperous world--the capacity for human suffering and cruelty through the 20th century is truly unbelievable. I don't think a person growing up in the US can even fathom it. That's why it is even more important to read this book, because, even here in the US, it would be so easy for history to repeat itself, especially when people don't take the time to educate themselves and get involved. This book has certainly documented an important time and important accounts and memories that should never be forgotten.

I enjoyed this book immenesely.

Perhaps as it is written by a European you gain another point of view.

Very well written (and presumably translated).

I would recommend to anyone with an interest in recent history.

I came across Geert Mak's wonderful book by accident...in a book store. What a super find! Part travelogue, part history, part (and this is important) individual comment on Europe and its 20th century history.
Very readable, with insight into euorpean politics and class/ethnic culture.
You want the best history of post-war europe..go to Tony Judt. But for a broad review, go to Geert Mak!
Mr Mak is a great writer who draws you on from chapter to chapter.