Balkan Ghosts

A Journey Through History

By: Robert D. Kaplan

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

From the assassination that triggered World War I to the ethnic warfare in Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia, the Balkans have been the crucible of the 20th century, the place where terrorism and genocide first became tools of policy. Chosen as one of the Best Books of the Year by the New York Times, and greeted with critical acclaim as "the most insightful and timely work on the Balkans to date" (The Boston Globe), Kaplan's prescient, enthralling, and often chilling political travelogue is already a modern classic.

This new edition of Balkan Ghosts includes six opinion pieces written by Robert Kaplan about the Balkans between 1996 and 2000 beginning just after the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and ending after the conclusion of the Kosovo War, with the removal of Slobodan Milosevic from power.

©1993, 1996, 2005 Robert D. Kaplan (P)2020 Tantor

Balkan countries

I do not know much about this area. The narrator was pleasant to listen to.
The story is a short overview (1 or 2 chapters) of various countries in the Balkan area. Interesting and a little sad. Definitely has upped my interest in reading more about this area of the world.

Interesting and descriptive

Very detailed encounter of the Balkans. Can be a little slow at times but still great information.

Another great read by Robert Kaplan

What an adventure it would be to actually travel with Robert Kaplan. This was a wonderful journey.

Very interesting, but a British narrator?

Robert Kaplan provides a very interesting history cum travelogue of a number of Balkan lands, at least up to the early 1990s.

Kaplan is American, but for some unfathomable reason the publisher of the audiobook chose to have a British narrator read the book. This was continuously disconcerting to me. It's not like there is a shortage of capable American narrators!

VERY INTERESTING

This is an excellent book in so many ways, the history of the area in connection with the world history and people.
This living conditions and the historical events.
The many locations mentioned I the book can be found in “Google Earth”. It is interesting to look that up.
The book definitely added to my knowledge and understanding of people and the world in which they live.
The narrator, mr. Nigel Patterson, is a pleasure to listen to.
My thanks to all involved, JK.

Well written history infused travelogue with some kind of cringy takes

I found it a fascinating listen that was well plotted out and gave lots of great background history to the situation in the Balkans in the early nineties. The real downside is the author’s orientalist bent that constantly defines the East as “mysterious and magical” and the West as “logical and orderly.” For how much nuance there is in many aspects of the book, this sometimes felt generalizing.

Yes

Yessddddddd really good was one good as the very good awesomeness that he eyes when I wasn’t born

As Advertised

The Balkan Ghosts provides a unique view of region and the causes that lead to it. It heavily focuses on several countries but hardly touches on others, Kaplan explains his reasoning for this. Over all good book

The many wars and ugly conquests of the Balkans

Wish I’d listened to this *before* my trip through that area. Very insightful, if a little dated.

Long but very informative

I have a better understanding of why the region has struggled so badly. Basically they have been screwed by every one. And still denied the freedom they deserve