Nov 28, 2006 | ISBN 9780452287761
“In her latest, well-informed author and Ohio native Rossi might be writing an irreverent ‘Cliff’s Notes’ for American geography students who have difficulty finding Europe on a map, were it not for her opinionated voice and her commitment to ‘European history and culture that we rarely learn in school.’… She efficiently delineates the real-world differences between “Western Europe and Greece” (the Old) and the largely post-Communist eastern counterparts (the New) without losing her playful attitude. In 28 entries, Rossi has created an engaging travel guide complete with the basics-demographics, history, hot spots and notable natives-as well as numerous digressions, including the significance of Ireland’s groundbreaking television comedy Father Ted; Poland’s answer to the Olsen twins, actors-turned-moral crusaders the Kaczynski twins; and Sweden’s innovative use of booze and manure for fuel. Rossi is most skilled in keeping her guide balanced: sidebar stories on significant events, scandals and achievements add depth and definition to each profile, while the one-line summaries included in the introductions keep things pithy.”—Publishers Weekly
