Romania: Borderland of Europe (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781861891037)

Romania occupies a unique position on the map of Eastern Europe. It is a country that presents many paradoxes. In this book the preeminent Romanian historian Lucian Boia examines his native land's development from the Middle Ages to modern times, delineating its culture, history, language, politics and ethnic identity. Boia introduces us to the heroes and myths of Romanian history, and provides an enlightening account of the history of Romanian Communism. He shows how modernization and the influence of the West have divided the nation - town versus country, nationalists versus pro-European factions, the elite versus the masses - and argues that Romania today is in chronic difficulty as it tries to fix its identity and envision a future for itself.

The book concludes with a tour of Bucharest, whose houses, streets and public monuments embody Romania's traditional values and contemporary contradictions.

Author: Lucian Boia
ISBN-10: 1861891032
ISBN-13: 9781861891037
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Language: English
Published: 01/02/2004
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.38lbs
Size: 9.16h x 6.20w x 0.97d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 11/01/2002 pg. 51