In Europe's Shadow

December 14, 2015
In this insightful fusion of history, travelogue, memoir, and contemporary analysis, Kaplan (The Revenge of Geography), a journalist and foreign affairs writer, recounts his travels through Romania and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Kaplan has long been captivated by Romania, inspired by the oft-neglected country’s culture and history as well as its recurring “spiritual, military, and political domination by great powers.” He traces the Romanian lands’ tragic history from antiquity to the present, with a focus on the tumultuous 20th century, during which it suffered a chilling progression of “territorial dismemberment, occupation, monarchy, military dictatorship, fascism, and Communism.” Kaplan shares travel anecdotes and ruminations on architecture, religion, literature, historical works, and geography—identifying the latter as a primary cause of the country’s troubles. He also examines Russia’s contemporary role in the region, including regional dependence on Russian energy, Vladimir Putin’s “vulgar, exclusivist nationalism,” and revanchist behavior in Ukraine, which has ushered in a new, unsettling geopolitical age that has been referred to as a “new Cold War.” Despite the lack of a clear focus and the somewhat incoherent organization, this is a well-written, intriguing, and informative book. Maps & photos. Agent: Gail Hochman, Brandt and Hochman Literary Agents Inc.