Adriatic

“An excellent exploration of the Adriatic’s intriguing geographic and intellectual landscapes . . . The historical scope of Kaplan’s canvas is vast, yet he works hard to bring to it the fruits of modern historical scholarship. That is rare among popular authors, and deserves much praise.”—The New York Times

“Kaplan is one of the leading geopolitical thinkers of our age. . . . Scattered throughout the narrative are gems of historical and geopolitical insight.”—New York Journal of Books

“[Kaplan] is America’s geopolitical star. . . . For more than a decade, he has used his keen analytical skills to explain the world’s power relationships.”—The American Spectator

“[An] elegantly layered exploration of Europe’s past and future . . . Like the best European travelogues—the wandering, inquisitive weavings of Rebecca West’s Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (1941) or Patrick Leigh Fermor’s Between the Woods and the Water (1986)—Adriatic mimics the layered complexity of its subject. This is a multifaceted masterpiece, a glittering excavation of the glories and rubbish heaps of Europe’s past, a meditation on history and the inner journey of traveling with books in mind, a traveler’s elegy for paths taken and not taken, and a conditionally hopeful reflection on Europe’s emerging future.”—The Wall Street Journal

“A marvelous mix of history, literature, atmospherics, and personal insight . . . [Kaplan] travels to learn rather than to simply confirm, which makes him the ideal guide for readers interested in expanding their understanding rather than reinforcing their assumptions. . . . Europe is back, and Kaplan’s erudite and humane study offers an exemplary guide to it.”—The National Interest

“Reading his book leaves one wanting to read it all over again while retracing the steps of his voyage. His palpable thirst for knowledge about human cultures and his tireless effort to wrest new insights from a life of travel and reading are exemplary.”—The Dispatch

“Part travelogue, part geopolitical study, this freewheeling book examines the kaleidoscopic histories and cultures of the countries fringing the Adriatic Sea.”—The New Yorker

“A lovely, personal journey around the Adriatic, in which Robert D. Kaplan revisits places and peoples he first encountered decades ago—explaining a region that while often overlooked, offers clues about Europe’s past, present and future.”—Peter Frankopan, author of Silk Roads

“Riveting . . . [an] insightful take on the stormy history and geopolitics of nations bordering the Adriatic.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Kaplan serves up his trademark mix of grand geopolitical themes and evocative sightseeing . . . in prose that brings to mind a freewheeling, movable seminar.”—Publishers Weekly