U Europi 1: Putovanje kroz XX. stoljeće

Europe 1 is a monumental work by Dutch writer and journalist Geert Mak, in which the author blends travelogue, historical analysis, and reportage to bring Europe’s turbulent 20th century to life. Throughout 1999, Mak traveled across the continent, visiting key sites of historical turning points—from Vienna, Paris, and London to the villages and battlefields that shaped the destinies of millions. The first volume of this sweeping chronicle focuses on the first half of the 20th century. The author begins by portraying Europe at the turn of the century—an era of rapid momentum, industrial progress, and apparent prosperity that was soon brutally interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War. Mak skillfully depicts the collapse of great empires, giving voice to both major political decisions and the harrowing testimonies of "ordinary" people. He goes on to examine the rise of totalitarian regimes—Fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism—as well as the horrors of the Second World War and the Holocaust, concluding with an account of the continent's post-war division. Thanks to his exceptional storytelling gift, the author presents history not as a dry list of dates, but as a living, tangible, and often tragic human story. Europe 1 is essential reading for understanding contemporary European identity, collective traumas, and the roots of the political relationships that continue to shape our continent today.