Europe in 7 1/2 Chapters

The Shortest Introduction to the World's Oldest and Newest Continent

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What is Europe?

As the old world order crumbles, it has never been more important to understand the epic story of Europe – the world’s smallest and largest, oldest and newest continent.

Europe is at once vast and intricate: you can have breakfast in Germany, coffee in the Netherlands and lunch in Belgium. It invented democracy but has fought nearly 3,000 wars in the last millennium. And its past is present everywhere: the borders of vanished empires still show up in election results today.

Brilliantly accessible yet profound, and fizzing with anecdote and expertise, Europe in 7 ½ Chapters is an exhilarating journey through Europe’s geography, history and culture – from wars and revolutions to food and football – which shows how Europe came to be as it is today: more united and more divided than ever. Can it still flourish in this dangerous new world, and even shape it for the better?

Whether you're looking for an introduction to the continent’s breathtaking past or the perfect holiday read, you should have Europe in 7½ Chapters in your pocket – it is witty, surprising and always entertaining.

‘A lifetime of learning condensed into 160 pages – full of fascinating nuggets and insights’ SAM FREEDMAN

© Timothy Garton Ash 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

A lifetime of learning condensed into 160 pages - full of fascinating nuggets and insights, and very enjoyable
Sam Freedman, author of Failed State

About Timothy Garton Ash

Timothy Garton Ash is Professor of European Studies Emeritus at the University of Oxford and a columnist for the Guardian. He has lived and breathed European politics and culture for over fifty years, witnessing some of the most dramatic scenes in its history, meeting many of its key players and analysing how life has evolved for ordinary Europeans across the breadth of the continent.

He has won many prizes for his eleven previous books, including The File, his riveting autobiographical account of investigating the contents of his Stasi file after the fall of East Germany. His last book, Homelands: A Personal History of Europe, has appeared in twenty-three European languages.

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