Expurgating this perspective of a French solider released from the Polish army in 1780, as well as other misguided ideas about Europe and Poles, comprises the core of Norman Davies’ latest book, Europe East and West (trans. Bartolomiej Pietrzak.) In reading this collection of fifteen essays, the reader soon realises, however, that Davies’ aim is not only to prove the inaccuracy of such views about Europe, but also to present his own persona and ideas as an historian, his inspirations, his roots, his methods of composition.

With his patient, at times humorous narration, Davies presents his most important cultural and political views published over the last fifteen years of his career as an observer of the events of Europe. In the first part of the book, we learn about the roots of Europe, the dichotomies between ‘east’ and ‘west,’ as well as ‘civilisation’ and ‘barbarity.’

In the second part, an unmistakable change of tone occurs; the author recollects the origins of his career, the influences of the English education system (particularly in Magdalene College, Oxford) on his intellectual formation as well as the development of his writing style – here, Davies presents part of his atelier as well as writing techniques. We discover, as well, the author's conviction about the important role played by literature in shaping a nation's language. With great pleasure and wonder, we read about the twenty languages with which Davies operates, as well as his debacles and mishaps in learning Polish. Fragments of poems in Old Scandinavian, Old English, Welsh, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian and Finnish add authenticity and breadth to the historical sources employed by the author.

The third and fourth parts of the book, respectively entitled ‘The Historian’s Mission’ and ‘The Historian’s Histories’ are dedicated to the writing methods, which Davies used, as well as analyses of the Islamic and Jewish threads of European history and German-Polish relations. Particularly interesting is the chapter ‘Europe beyond oceans and steppes,’ which describes the place of Europe in the world throughout different ages - in this, a description of the similarities between Australia, the United States and Europe.

Davies’ work is not only an historical meditation. Among the anecdotes, recounts and historical analyses, we find delicately interwoven descriptions of the cultural works of different nations, including European literature and art. The historical accounts are enriched by reflections about forgotten or marginalised individuals and historical events. As the author himself underlines, “the iron curtain… has fallen. We can finally hope that the mental divisions of Europe have disappeared, and the fatal chasm between East and West will soon become a mere historical curiosity.”

By Lukasz Swiatek