“In his first book translated into English, La Repubblica correspondent Rumiz vents his anger at the European Union's "rhetoric of globalization," which homogenizes ethnic distinctions and threatens to obliterate traditional communities. His nostalgic, engaging search for the heart of European identity takes him from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, through present-day Finland, Latvia, Ukraine and Poland. In these regions, the ... Read moreauthor finds depopulated villages, survivors of mass deportations and exterminations that continued long after World War II. Exploring the border between Russia and the European Union, Rumiz realized that he was traveling "a seismic fault that's only apparently dormant" because Russia, under Putin, is becoming a renewed threat. A richly detailed journey into Europe's dark past and vulnerable present.” –Kirkus Reviews “In this hypnotic travelogue, Italian journalist Rumiz weaves a poetic narrative about his 2008 journey along the length of the former Iron Curtain…There’s an unlikely poetic beauty to his flowery, indulgent prose…He lovingly describes his escapades and experiences, conjuring up places few tourists ever visit, exposing the dichotomy between the modernity of the EU and the time-lost ways of the old world, and illuminating a much-overlooked region of the world in a thoroughly fascinating manner. Though he’s given to purple prose and overly colorful descriptions, there’s no denying the allure and appeal of his European odyssey.” –Publishers Weekly "A glimpse of a hard journey through hard times, highly recommended for those interested in European history and little-known corners of travel." -Library Journal "It's 'goodbye Iron Curtain; hello, EU scaffolding,' as Rumiz learns in a journey through new post-Soviet Europe." -National Geographic Traveler "Idiosyncratic, lushly observed and aglow with philosophical asides, this questing travelogue sheds light on regions you’ve never heard of, where traditions endure from other ages. . . Rumiz’s paean to 'peripheral places' shows his readers that dystopian modernity isn’t the only story of the present-day eastern borderlands: A fairy tale lurks between the lines, and those who have enough intuition and courage (and perhaps a Russian translator) can discover it for themselves, if they borrow his map."   -New York Times Book Review   Show Less