Heart of Europe: The Past in Poland's Present

TheimageofPolandhasonceagainbeenimpressedonEuropeanconsciousness.NormanDaviesprovidesakeytounderstandingthemodernPolishcrisisinthislucidandauthoritativedescriptionofthenation'shistory.Beginningwiththeperiodsince1945,hetravelsbackintimetohighlightthelong-termthemesandtraditionswhichhaveinfluencedpresentattitudes.HisevocativeaccountrevealsPolandastheheartofEuropeinmorethanthegeographicalsense.ItisacountrywhereEurope'sideologicalconflictsareplayedoutintheirmostacuteform:asrecenteventshaveemphasized,Poland'sfateisofvitalconcerntoEuropeancivilizationasawhole.ThisrevisedandupdatededitiontacklesandanalysestheissuesarisingfromthefalloftheEasternBloc,andlooksatPoland'sfuturewithinapoliticalclimateofdemocracyandfreemarket.