The Stories Old Towns Tell: A Journey Through Cities at the Heart of Europe

by Marek Kohn Narrated by Philip Battley

Overview

A fascinating journey through Europe's old towns, exploring why we treasure them-but also what they hide about a continent's fraught history



Historic quarters in cities and towns across the middle of Europe were devastated during the Second World War-some, like those of Warsaw and Frankfurt, had to be rebuilt almost completely. They are now centers of peace and civility that attract millions of tourists, but the stories they tell about places, peoples, and nations are selective. They are never the whole story.



These old towns and their turbulent histories have been key sites in Europe's ongoing theater of politics and war. Exploring seven old towns, from Frankfurt and Prague to Vilnius in Lithuania, the acclaimed writer Marek Kohn examines how they have been used since the Second World War to conceal political tensions and reinforce certain versions of history.



Uncovering hidden stories behind these old and old-seeming façades, Kohn offers us a new understanding of the politics of European history-making-showing how our visits to old towns could promote belonging over exclusion, and empathy over indifference.

Editorial Reviews

AudioFile - JANUARY 2024

Kohn's history of the "old town" sections of some German, Baltic, and Eastern European cities calls for the kind of careful and intelligent performance that Philip Battley delivers. Not a travelogue, but rather a general, architectural, and political history, Kohn's book is detailed, fact heavy, and sometimes dry. Battley's British-accented voice is not immediately striking but is amiable and quietly expressive. His pacing is comfortable--that is, unnoticeable, as it should be. His gentle emphases and supple shifts in tone accurately mirror the sense of the text and show engagement, both of which help the listener maintain interest through the dry spots. His performance of this informative and insightful audiobook is a real, if rather specialized, pleasure. W.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159698575
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	09/12/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

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