An account of a thousand years of strife, war, and bloodshed, from pre-Christianity to the fall of Communism--illuminating the cultural significance of a place perpetually lost to the margins of history.
[Mikanowski] does not approach this task chronologically, but thematically ... While this approach can be disorienting at first, it proves effective, letting the reader take in all that the region’s history has to offer ... While the amount and specificity of detail could, in the hands of another writer, make the book too academic for a general audience, Mikanowski sprinkles in color and humor ... If there is a weak point of this book, it is its framing device.
The scope of Goodbye, Eastern Europe... remains impressive, yielding a book chockablock with anecdotes ... Especially early on, the book lacks much of a narrative thread, managing at times to feel simultaneously awash in scattershot facts and merely cursory ... When the focus moves to smaller groups or individuals, Mikanowski's ranging intellect and interests shine.
