This is Europe told in the first person, a reflective voice tracing half a century of travel, disputes, and devotion to a continent. The narrator spent fifty years moving across Europe, meeting countless people, and worrying about the fate of a place they deeply love. What emerges is not merely a memoir but a heartfelt letter to Europe, a tribute from someone who believes in its enduring promise despite today’s strains.
A lover of Europe is someone who believes that the best possible version of this continent exists right now and that it remains under pressure from internal and external shocks. The book asks whether these pressures point to disappointment or a missing energy in the European spirit today.
The two guiding themes of the author’s life have always been Europe and freedom. From a young age, travel unveiled a continent still learning to shake off old dictatorships, especially in the south. As the European Union expanded and new freedoms flourished, a sequence of crises began in 2008 with a global financial collapse, followed by the Eurozone strain and the conflicts in Georgia and Crimea. Russia’s actions were not just disappointing; they sounded a call for European allies to defend the values and institutions that keep Europe strong. The painter’s brushstrokes of history show that most people still want Europe to endure and thrive.
The author brings a journalist’s eye to historical moments, sometimes wearing both hats at once. When Spain hosts this interview, the discussion turns to a striking English crisis from the outside, as David Cameron became foreign secretary after his Brexit era. The scene feels festive and urgent, a reminder that history is often carried by careful notes and quick observations rather than grand theories.
Asked about Cameron and the broader mood, the author replies that while the English scene is compelling, Spain’s current politics command more attention. The author keeps notebook entries from across Europe, dating back to a life lived on the move, capturing the moments that shape a continent in flux. Brexit is no longer dominating headlines, and the current government has begun a cautious return toward closer ties with the EU. Cameron’s Euroscepticism is seen as a sign of political strain rather than a definitive end to European collaboration. The UK’s path is not yet sealed, and a new phase may unfold after future elections, suggesting a pause rather than a final exit.
A provocative reflection follows on the impulse to sever ties as powerful as the alliance between the UK and Europe. England cannot truly leave Europe, and the vote to leave was not inevitable. The author notes that a significant portion of the population favored remaining, including personal connections within the family, and points to the campaign dynamics that failed to keep the union intact. Yet Europe remains a shared project, and Britain’s return to closer EU relations is framed as a possible future development rather than a historical verdict. The held belief is that Britain cannot be separated from the European story, and a new chapter lies ahead after the next elections.
The interview shifts to the broader question of whether a union built in wartime bonds can refuse the ties that bind. The discussion recalls Adolf Hitler’s era and the heavy price of disunity. The author emphasizes that history shows a pattern: the walls come down, the Cold War ends, and yet new divisions emerge. Populist forces, he argues, reshaped attitudes by elevating a sense of belonging that sometimes ignores the shared responsibilities of modern Europe. Yet the current trend toward reintegration and a more open Europe offers renewal and hope for many readers.
In addressing a wide arc of events, the author speaks with a candid melancholy about personal losses and a persistent commitment to a human-centered history. The journey traces firsthand the long arc from family memories and wartime loyalties to a present-day Europe defined by mobility, shared spaces, and common futures. The book moves beyond Brussels or the institutions of the EU; it presents a living Europe seen through the eyes of people who can travel freely, speak many languages, and experience a mosaic of cultures, cuisines, and customs. It captures the shift from a world of distance to a connected reality where Friday departures become weekend arrivals in another country and no border questions impede the experience of movement. The narrative underscores the transformation from a past marked by limits to a present shaped by unprecedented access and opportunity, observed by a writer who watched this evolution from the early days to today.
This is a story shared across generations. It chronicles the experiences of friends who lived behind the Iron Curtain and now witness a Europe that keeps evolving. It remains a tale of the heart of Europe, from the earliest sentiments of youth to the fresh perspectives of younger generations who witness a familiar yet transformed continent. The work is a dialogue with anonymous voices and unnamed yet intimately connected lives that reveal the real texture of Europe across borders.
Early plans for the book reflect a long-held idea, stored in notes and archives that record a journey from Yugoslavia to Ukraine. The author stacked materials across stairs and cabinets, then organized them into a memory that spans decades. In 2015 the decision crystallized to present the memory as a coherent story, with a hesitation toward despair and a belief in enduring cultural ties. A moment of cultural reflection arrives with a banner celebrating a great European work, a reminder that Europe has endured past upheavals and has rebuilt itself as new chapters unfold. The lingering question remains: can Europe embrace its broad horizon while honoring diverse national voices?
The comparison to Stefan Zweig’s Yesterday’s World underscores the tension between pessimism and hope. Zweig’s life ended in struggle, but the author argues that the real message lies in the persistence of shared values and the possibility of renewal. The narrative suggests that Europe can look forward with optimism when it embraces the energy of its people and the promise of a union that respects both unity and diversity. The author sees a Europe shaped by many versions of the same story, with each country contributing its own national edition to a larger mosaic. The result is a unity rooted in range, a structure that supports variety and collaboration despite lingering skepticism.
The book also delves into loneliness, a moment when Europe aspires to companionship yet sometimes falls short of understanding. Viktor Orban’s critique is acknowledged, but the author argues that European values are broader and include elements like tradition, nationalism, and the defense of democracy. A recent political shift in Poland, driven by mass participation in elections and a rejection of anti-European currents, provides a hopeful sign that shared European values can prevail. If Europe were a person, it would be a remarkable figure—an intelligent, brave woman capable of remarkable acts, an embodiment of courage and possibility rather than a mere policy object.