The Balkans: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles) - Hardcover

Mazower, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0679640878 ISBN 13: 9780679640875

Publisher: Modern Library, 2000

Synopsis

Examines the causes of ethnic conflict in the Balkans, discussing how the meeting of European and Asian cultural influences and the blending of Christian and Muslim populations have created a complex and divisive situation.

About this title

Review:

" A gem of a book, packed with illuminating information." -- "The New York Review of Books"
" An invaluable resource for anyone hoping to gain an initial understanding of Balkan history." -- "The New York Times"
" An excellent primer on the region' s history." -- "The Economist"
" A highly suggestive analysis of an inexhaustible subject." -- "Publishers Weekly"

A gem of a book, packed with illuminating information. "The New York Review of Books"
An invaluable resource for anyone hoping to gain an initial understanding of Balkan history. "The New York Times"
An excellent primer on the region s history. "The Economist "
A highly suggestive analysis of an inexhaustible subject. "Publishers Weekly""

"A gem of a book, packed with illuminating information." --The New York Review of Books

"An invaluable resource for anyone hoping to gain an initial understanding of Balkan history." --The New York Times

"An excellent primer on the region's history." --The Economist

"A highly suggestive analysis of an inexhaustible subject." --Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher:

Roy Foster explains why this is one of his favourites...
This is the kind of history that takes you straight to conclusions, with a swift and startling demonstration of event and effect, rather than painstakingly rehearsing every step of the way. It is a short and elegant book, but the variety of sources quoted and the breadth of reference show the author's unassuming control over his fractious subject.

Mazower demonstrates how recent the concept of 'the Balkans' is, and how freighted with preconceptions. He traces the geographical, demographic and political pressures which carved out interdependent but antagonistic political units; in the process he suggestively redefines our ideas of 'Europe', especially regarding its Ottoman dimension.

The reflections on subjects as diverse as the continuity of Byzantine culture, the fate of 'post-peasant' societies in the age of tourism, the uses of ecumenism (and occultism), and the relationship of nationalism and globalisation make this book far larger than its narrow covers suggest; the epilogue alone, 'On Violence', should be required reading for all students of modern history.

It takes as its epigraph the remark made by an Ottoman official to a French priest in 1848. 'When I travelled in Europe, I saw everywhere things I did not particularly like. Fine - I did not say, "That is no good." I wanted to know why things were thus.' Mazower himself is faithful to this precept, and it is one of the reasons why he has written a modern classic.

About this edition

• Publisher: Modern Library
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0679640878
• ISBN 13: 9780679640875
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 188