The Stories Old Towns Tell

“[A] fascinating chronicle.”—Benjamin Balint, Wall Street Journal “An original take on 20th-century European history…  illuminates the city as a symbolic vehicle for the representation of powerful ideas” —Alastair Bailey, Financial Times   “Reminds us that history continues to be written in blood and armour plating as well as twee half-timbering” —Alastair Bailey, Financial Times   “I will never be seduced by such cosy nostalgia again… . A timely rallying call for retrospective inclusion and historical empathy.”—Charlie Connelly, New European “Marvellously rich and beautifully written. Here are the stories, myths, anecdotes and calamities of Old Towns, and how their citizens, planners and conquerors dealt with (and caused) destruction. No critical lover of Europe should be without this book.”—Neal Ascherson, author of The Struggles for Poland “I thought I was well travelled in the region, but Marek Kohn managed time and again to tell me stories, large and small, that I didn’t know.”—John Kampfner, author of Why the Germans Do It Better “A remarkable, vitally important reconstruction of the history of Old Towns and the role they play in Europe. Outstanding.”—Rosemary Wakeman, author of A Modern History of European Cities “Marek Kohn has identified a fascinating and unexplored subject, his research is meticulous, and the stories are stirring. This really is a new take on old Europe. Very good indeed.”—Eva Hoffman, author of Lost in Translation  

Marek Kohn is the author of nine books, including Four Words for Friend, A Reason for Everything, and Dope Girls.