This publication is of more than 300 vignettes grouped around themes which are the five chapters. They are not chronological but appear to be written around some private design known to the author. The location for each of the vignettes is obviously well‐known to the author and there can be no doubt that the writing is totally influenced by the experiences of the author during the past 50 years.
These experiences of Morris are so important to the book that they colour all the reading and they are confusing. At one time the author is a soldier during World War II and at other times is seeing the sights through the eyes of a middle aged woman. Because no explanation is given as to how this is possible it does cause some confusion for the reader.
Morris is unbelievably well travelled not only to popular and well‐known places but also to small, attractive corners of many countries. The comments are all personal so that the reader is not invited to agree or disagree with the author; one is left in a rather superfluous position.
The constant reference point in the text is that of Trieste; each of the chapters has it as a starting‐point. The reader is taken along a journey in which Trieste changes in its social and political state but not in its attraction for the author. Morris does not universally like all of Europe; there are places which are disliked intensely.
This is a fascinating book which is well worth reading by all ages. The young will be intrigued and want to travel to the many out‐of‐the‐way places while those older readers who have seen some of the parts of Europe will reminisce and argue with themselves. The book presents the human face of the administrative body of the European Union which tends to be forgotten.
