Publisher Description

The image of Poland has once again been impressed on European consciousness. Norman Davies provides a key to understanding the modern Polish crisis in this lucid and authoritative description of the nation's history. Beginning with the period since 1945, he travels back in time to highlight the long-term themes and traditions which have influenced present attitudes. His evocative account reveals Poland as the heart of Europe in more than thegeographical sense. It is a country where Europe's ideological conflicts are played out in their most acute form: as recent events have emphasized, Poland's fate is of vital concern to Europeancivilization as a whole. This revised and updated edition tackles and analyses the issues arising from the fall of the Eastern Block, and looks at Poland's future within a political climate of democracy and free market.

Notes

A new edition which provides a key to understanding the modern Polish crisis.

Author Biography

Norman Davies is chairman of the history department, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, at the University of London. He has been a visiting professor at Columbia and McGill Universities.

Table of Contents

(to be confirmed)1: The Legacy of Humiliation: Poland Since the Second World War2: The Legacy of Defeat: Poland's Wartime Experience, 1939-19473: The Legacy of Disenchantment: Poland's Experiment in Independence, 1914-19394: The Legacy of Spiritual Mastery: Poland During the Partitions, 1795-19185: The Legacy of An Ancient Culture: Poland before 17956: Echoes: The Past In Poland's Present7: Beyond History

Review

`another masterpiece. Heart of Europe has sweep, a rare analytical depth and a courageous display of the author's personal convictions. The book begins and ends with Solidarity; the unique labour movement thus serves as a frame for the nation's history.'New York Times Book Review

Long Description

The image of Poland has once again been impressed on European consciousness. Norman Davies provides a key to understanding the modern Polish crisis in this lucid and authoritative description of the nation's history. Beginning with the period since 1945, he travels back in time to highlight the long-term themes and traditions which have influenced present attitudes. His evocative account reveals Poland as the heart of Europe in more than the
geographical sense. It is a country where Europe's ideological conflicts are played out in their most acute form: as recent events have emphasized, Poland's fate is of vital concern to European civilization as a whole. This revised and updated edition tackles and analyses the issues arising
from the fall of the Eastern Block, and looks at Poland's future within a political climate of democracy and free market.

Review Text

`another masterpiece. Heart of Europe has sweep, a rare analytical depth and a courageous display of the author's personal convictions. The book begins and ends with Solidarity; the unique labour movement thus serves as a frame for the nation's history.'
New York Times Book Review

Review Quote

"another masterpiece.Heart of Europehas sweep, a rare analytical depth and a courageous display of the author's personal convictions. The book begins and ends with Solidarity; the unique labour movement thus serves as a frame for the nation's history."--New York Times Book Review

Promotional "Headline"

(to be confirmed) 1. The Legacy of Humiliation: Poland Since the Second World War 2. The Legacy of Defeat: Poland's Wartime Experience, 1939-1947 3. The Legacy of Disenchantment: Poland's Experiment in Independence, 1914-1939 4. The Legacy of Spiritual Mastery: Poland During the Partitions, 1795-1918 5. The Legacy of An Ancient Culture: Poland before 1795 6. Echoes: The Past In Poland's Present 7. Beyond History

Feature

One of the classic texts of European historical and political analysis
Norman Davies is a high profile trade author, whose books have captured the reading public's interest and imagination.
The previous edition has sold c 40,000 copies to date
This text is fully updated and revised for 2001 publication, taking in recent events and changes in the political climate of Poland and Eastern Europe.

New Feature

1. The Legacy of Humiliation: Poland Since the Second World War 2. The Legacy of Defeat: Poland's Wartime Experience, 1939-1947 3. The Legacy of Disenchantment: Poland's Experiment in Independence, 1914-1939 4. The Legacy of Spiritual Mastery: Poland During the Partitions, 1795-1918 5. The Legacy of An Ancient Culture: Poland before 1795 6. Echoes: The Past In Poland's Present 7. Beyond History

Details