An Island in Time

A fascinating account of the life and charming inhabitants of a typical countryside village, and how it must adapt and change in order to survive in the modern world.In this book Geert Mak returns to the small Frisian village of his childhood, Jorwert (pop. 330 and falling). It's a typical European village where the shops are closing down, the few children left will escape to a less arduous life in the city and it's becoming increasingly isolated. Jowert has more in common with an English village than with Amsterdam, and it's moving story of neighbours and their efforts to preserve their long established way of life is relevant to the changing face of the countryside everywhere in Europe.

“"Movingly relevant."”

Eloquent Guardian
Movingly relevant Irish Times
Mak is good on the pulse of the village, its ebb and flow as people come and go, but running throughout the book is a genuine anger that this is a meritorious way of life we are too eager to dismiss -- Lesley McDowell Independent of Sunday
A big subject, neatly summarized, in which he also studies the changes in people's values that take place when they move to big cities, and the role now played by incomers in village life -- Alastair Mabbott Herald
Nowhere has the silent rural revolution been described more beautifully and with mroe feeling Volkskrant

Geert Mak is a jounalist and historian, and one of Holland's bestselling writers; his prizewinning books include Amsterdam and In Europe.Translated by Ann Kelland.

Geert Mak's classic account of the European countryside in crisis - now with a new introduction from the author. In this book Geert Mak returns to the small Frisian village of his childhood, Jorwerd (population 330 and falling). It's a typical European village where the shops are closing down, it's becoming increasingly isolated, and the few children will escape to a less arduous life in the city. Jorwerd has more in common with an English village than with Amsterdam, and its moving story of neighbourliness and their efforts to preserve their long-established way of life is relevant to the changing face of the countryside everywhere in Europe. 'Eloquent' Guardian 'Nowhere has the silent rural revolution been described more beautifully and with more feeling' Volkskrant 'This book is not just about Jorwerd, it is about all the villages in the world, the oldest community known to man, where all our ancestors, our collective memories, our highest values and most beautiful stories originate' NRC Handelsblad

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