The Dream of Europe

Travels in the Twenty-First Century

Geert Mak, Liz Waters

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English

Harvill
19 October 2021

History; European history; Social & cultural history; Travel writing

The long-awaited sequel to Geert Mak's landmark In Europe

'Mak is the history teacher everyone should have had' Financial Times

How did the great European dream turn sour? And where do we go from here?

From the author of the internationally acclaimed In Europe, a stunning history of our present, examining the first two decades of this most fragile and fraught new millennium.

The great European project was built out of a common desire for peace, prosperity and freedom; a wish for a united Europe striving towards a common goal. The EU was to set an example- an arena for close cooperation, tackling crucial shared concerns from climate change to organized crime, promoting open borders and social security.

But the first two turbulent decades of this century have been times of rapid and profound change. From the shores of Lampedusa to Putin's Moscow, the continent threatens to tear itself apart. What's happened to Europe's optimism and euphoria? How has it given way to nostalgia, frustration and fear, the fragile European dream in danger of turning into a nightmare?

In The Dream of Europe, Geert Mak, one of Europe's best-loved commentators, charts the seismic events that have shaped people's lives over the past twenty years. Mak's monumental book In Europe defined the continent on the verge of a new millennium. The Dream of Europe brings us up to the present day, through the rocky expansion of the EU, the aftermath of 9/11 and terrorist attacks across Europe, the 2008 financial crash and the euro crisis, the tragedy of the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, the rise of right-wing populism and Brexit.

Like no other, Mak blends history, politics and culture with the stories and experiences of the many Europeans he meets on his travels. He brings this continent to life, and asks what role does Europe play now, and how might we face our challenges together, in the spirit of solidarity and connection.

'A powerful, humane and serious mind' Guardian

'Mak is a truly cosmopolitan chronicler' Independent

Praise for In Europe-

'Fascinating... a splendidly panoramic picture of our common European home' Literary Review

'Every page sparkles with insight' Herald

'Spectacular and beautifully crafted' Sunday Times

By: Geert Mak
Translated by: Liz Waters
Imprint: Harvill
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 44mm
Weight: 719g
ISBN: 9781787302440
ISBN 10: 178730244X
Pages: 512
Publication Date: 19 October 2021
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Geert Mak (Author) Geert Mak is a journalist and historian, and the internationally acclaimed author of In Europe, In America, Amsterdam and The Bridge. He is one of the Netherlands' bestselling authors, has twice been awarded Historian of the Year and his books have been translated into more than 20 languages.

Reviews for The Dream of Europe: Travels in the Twenty-First Century

Compelling... Anecdotal nuggets sparkle on every page... A broad sweep of the past 20 years in a baffling, teeming continent. * Economist * Absorbing... an illuminating odyssey... Mak concludes by suggesting that contemporary Europe is undergoing a 'paradigm change' comparable to that which occurred in the wake of Gutenberg, Columbus and Luther... as the insights in his book reveal, Mak is an astute observer and he may well be right. -- Piers Brendon * Literary Review *