Finally I have finished this beast which was over 1100 pages. An effort it did take but I really enjoyed reading this book. Is this my favourite book of all time? No! But I still loved it. It’s such an experience that someone from England comes to the Balkans with an open mind. Does west have flaws in her writing? Sure, she has a bias towards Serbs which is very evident. She has some odd takes on other cultures in the Balkans. But what makes the so interesting that it’s more than a travel book, it’s mixed with the rich history of each nation. This book is a treasure chest for anyone interested in learning about Balkan history. I highly recommend it if you have an interest in history specifically in Balkan history.