The Picnic

Exhilarating … skilfully dramatises the extraordinary chain of events at a summer party in Hungary that led to the end of Soviet power [and] became a catalyst for the dramatic peaceful revolutions that reunited the continent … gripping – Tim Adams * Observer *Evoking the dramatic events in vivid colour … providing an insight into how deeply this history still matters today … fascinating – Katja Hoyer * Telegraph ***** *Revelatory … Longo’s engrossing and dramatic book adds a new, captivating chapter to the history of the Cold War – William Boyd * New Statesman *This little gem of a book tells the story of … a key Cold War moment … Longo’s vivid narrative captures the tension of the moment … an intensely moving story that explores the nature of freedom – Victor Sebestyen * Sunday Times *Gripping … refreshingly fast-paced, effortlessly moving the reader from one place and moment to another … should be required reading * History Today *Beautifully written … The Picnic reads like a thriller – Peter Frankopan, Chair of the Judges of the Orwell Prize for Political WritingBrisk and engaging … It’s an uplifting tale, but Longo takes care not to oversentimentalise it – Houman Barekat * Guardian *Captivating … Longo recounts the drama in a vivid, fast-paced narrative [which] never lacks verve * The New York Times *Elegantly crafted … He tells a gripping tale … relating to both timeless questions of struggle and agency, and topics in the headlines today * Boston Globe *A great story … this is history told from the point of view of those who make it – Ben Rogers * Times Literary Supplement *

Matthew Longo is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Leiden University and the award-winning author of The Politics of Borders. He lives in The Netherlands.