Why has the collapse of Communism resulted in so much disappointment for the hopeful millions of Eastern Europe? In this original and provocative book Philip Longworth argues that their predicament is only partly due to the imposition of the Soviet system: rather, they are the heirs of misfortune which dates back centuries.

In searching for the origins of Eastern Europe's backwardness and the reasons for its difficult adaptation to democracy, this sweeping history ranges from the present day to the time of Constantine the Great, from the Urals to the Mediterranean and the Baltic, and emphasises culture and society, as well as politics and economics.

The resulting analysis provides the crucial, and until now much-needed, long-term background to the current problems facing Eastern Europe. This new perspective and the insight it brings will improve our understanding of this complex region and be of immense value to all students of European history.