"The first comprehensive history of the relationship in the modern era between the great powers and the various Balkan peoples." –
San Francisco Chronicle "A very considerable achievement . . . both heart-rending and beautifully judged." –
David Rieff, Los Angeles Times "Excellent . . . Glenny's audacious theme is that the Balkans are not a freestanding powder keg, but a 'powder trail' laid by the great powers themselves." –
Dusko Doder, The New Republic "Misha Glenny is the wisest and most reflective of all the Western journalists who have covered this part of Europe in the past two decades . . . this was an enormously ambitious book to undertake, but it is the book which Europe and America need." –
Neal Ascherson, Observer (UK) "His book covers an amazing amount of historical and geographical ground, ranging from early nineteenth-century Greece to Kosovo the day before yesterday. . . . This is popular history of the Norman Davies school, conceived on a large scale, highly readable, accessible, full of the music of the past. Its great strengths are evocation, fascinating detail and narrative sweep. A great achievement." –
Timothy Garton Ash, Mail on Sunday (UK) "Above all, the book is justified by the insights which add up to a convincing picture of the problems." –
Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, Sunday Times (London) "An endeavor which deserves extraordinary admiration and as yet has no rival." –
Jonathan Steele, Guardian (UK) "Compelling . . . Glenny's book should be required reading for all those wishing to know what has gone wrong with the region." –
Jonathan Eyal, Irish Times