Europeana: A Brief History of the Twentieth Century (Eastern European Literature)

Patrik Ouredník's first novel to be translated into English is a unique version of the history of the twentieth century.Told in an informal, mesmerizing voice, Ouredník represents the twentieth century in all its contradictions and grand illusions, demonstrating that nothing substantial has changed between 1900 and 1999—humanity is still hopeful for the future and still mired in age-old conflicts. As he demonstrates that nothing can be reduced to a single, true viewpoint, Ouredník mixes hard facts and idiosyncratic observations, highlighting the horror and absurdity of the twentieth century and the further absurdity of attempting to narrate this history. Patrik Ourednik's first novel to be translated into English is a unique version of the history of the twentieth century. Told in an informal, mesmerizing voice, Ourednik represents the twentieth century in all its contradictions and grand illusions, demonstrating that nothing substantial has changed between 1900 and 1999—humanity is still hopeful for the future and still mired in age-old conflicts. As he demonstrates that nothing can be reduced to a single, "true" viewpoint, Ourednik mixes hard facts and idiosyncratic observations, highlighting the horror and absurdity of the twentieth century and the further absurdity of attempting to narrate this history. "Europeana: A Brief History of the Twentieth Century is an eccentric overview of all the horrors, contradictions, and absurdities of this century. From World War I to Hitler to racism in America, Ourednik encapsulates in this short work the essence of what the twentieth century was all about and what the next century promises to be."--BOOK JACKET