New Europe

Plot

Product Description Until the early 1990s, when the Berlin Wall came tumbling down, travelling behind the iron curtain was never easy. In undertaking his new journey through Eastern Europe, breathing in its rich history, filming its exquisite sights and talking to its diverse peoples, Michael fills what has been a void in his own experience and that of very many of his own generation. As in all his series, Palin's New Europe takes the form of a journey through countries which have rich and complex cultures. Few have survived intact, as the ebb and flow of warring armies has continually changed the map of Europe. Starting in the mountains of Slovenia he travels down through Croatia and the former Yugoslavia to Albania before turning northwards to embrace Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, The Ukraine, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, the former East Germany, Poland, the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad (as Konigsberg originally home to the Teutonic Knights), Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, opening up a new and undiscovered world to millions of viewers and readers. About the Author Michael Palin established his reputation with MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS and RIPPING YARNS. A self-confessed dromomaniac (travel addict), he has written books to accompany his six very successful travel series, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1988), POLE TO POLE (1991), FULL CIRCLE (1995), HEMINGWAY ADVENTURE (1999), SAHARA (2001) and HIMALAYA (2003), the last three published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. HIMALAYA was the No 1 bestseller for 11 consecutive weeks. From AudioFile Twenty Eastern-European countries--that's a lot of languages, histories, vistas, and cups of espresso. In his latest travelogue Michael Palin crosses the borders of lands that until 15 years ago were hidden behind the Iron Curtain. One can hear his delight in digging up truffles, discovering Bulgarian Gypsies, and watching wrestling Turks. Appropriately, Palin finds a more somber tone for the aching weight of visiting Balkan mine fields, the concentration camp of Auschwitz, and the city of Dresden. ³Overwhelmed by significance,² he comments. Overall, he sees a cautiously optimistic future for the New Europe. As always, Palin escorts us armchair travelers down many a less-traveled road. We come away feeling enriched and thoroughly entertained. B.P. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine--Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine