WINNER OF THE DUFF COOPER PRIZE 2021SHORTLISTED FOR THE RUNCIMAN AWARD 2022A NEW STATESMAN AND TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021'Deserves to remain the standard treatment of the subject in English for many decades to come' Roderick Beaton, Times Literary SupplementIn the exhausted, repressive years that followed Napoleon's defeat in 1815, there was one cause that came to galvanize countless individuals across Europe and the United States: freedom for Greece.Mark Mazower's wonderful new book recreates one of the most compelling, unlikely and significant events in the story of modern Europe. In the face of near impossible odds, the people of the villages, valleys and islands of Greece rose up against Sultan Mahmud II and took on the might of the imperial Ottoman armed forces, its Turkish cavalrymen, Albanian foot soldiers and the fearsome Egyptians. Despite the most terrible disasters, they held on until military intervention by Russia, France and Britain finally secured the kingdom of Greece.Mazower brilliantly brings together the different strands of the story. He takes us into the minds of revolutionary conspirators and the terrors of besieged towns, the stories of itinerant priests, sailors and slaves, ambiguous heroes and defenceless women and children struggling to stay alive amid a conflict of extraordinary brutality. Ranging across the Eastern Mediterranean and far beyond, he explores the central place of the struggle in the making of Romanticism and a new kind of politics that had volunteers flocking from across Europe to die in support of the Greeks. A story of how statesmen came to terms with an even more powerful force than themselves - the force of nationalism - this is above all a book about how people decided to see their world differently and, at an often terrible cost to themselves and their families, changed history.'Exquisite, impressive' The Times'Superbly subtle and thorough' Daily Telegraph
Mark Mazower Book order
Mark Mazower is a distinguished historian whose work delves into modern Europe and international history. His writing stands out for its profound insights into complex historical processes, particularly within the context of the twentieth century. Mazower approaches history with an emphasis on the interconnectedness of various cultures and societies, analyzing how ideas about global order have been shaped. His scholarship is lauded for its depth and its ability to present intricate subjects in a clear and compelling narrative.







- 2021
- 2018
What You Did Not Tell : A Russian Past and the Journey Home
- 400 pages
- 14 hours of reading
Uncovering his family's remarkable and moving stories, Mark Mazower recounts the sacrifices and silences that marked a generation and their descendants. It was a family that fate drove into the siege of Stalingrad, the Vilna ghetto, occupied Paris, and even into the ranks of the Wehrmacht. His British father was the lucky one, the son of Russian Jewish emigrants who settled in London after escaping the civil war and revolution. Max, the grandfather, had started out as a socialist and manned the barricades against tsarist troops, but never spoke of it. His wife, Frouma, came from a family ravaged by the Great Terror yet somehow making their way in Soviet society. In the centenary of the Russian Revolution, What You Did Not Tell recounts a brand of socialism erased from memory - humanistic, impassioned, and broad-ranging in its sympathies. But it also explores the unexpected happiness that may await history's losers, the power of friendship, and the love of place that allowed Max and Fro
- 2017
What You Did Not Tell
- 400 pages
- 14 hours of reading
A warm, insightful memoir by an acclaimed historian that explores the struggles of twentieth-century Europe through the lives and hopes of a single family—his own Following his relatives’ remarkable stories, Mark Mazower recounts the sacrifices and silences that marked a generation and their descendants. With a rich array of letters, photographs, interviews, and archives, he creates a moving portrait of a family that fate drove into the siege of Stalingrad, the Vilna ghetto, occupied Paris, and even the ranks of the Wehrmacht. His British father was the lucky one, the son of Russian Jewish emigrants who settled in London after escaping civil war and revolution. Max, the grandfather, had started out as a member of the socialist Bund organization and manned the barricades against tsarist troops, but never spoke of it. His wife, Frouma, came from a family ravaged by the Great Terror yet somehow making their way in Soviet society. In the centenary of the Russian Revolution, What You Did Not Tell recalls a brand of socialism erased from memory: humanistic, impassioned, and broad-ranging in its sympathies. But it also examines the unexpected happiness that may await history’s losers, the power of friendship, and the love of place that allowed Max and Frouma’s son to call England home.
- 2013
No Enchanted Palace
- 248 pages
- 9 hours of reading
No Enchanted Palace traces the origins and early development of the United Nations, one of the most influential yet perhaps least understood organizations active in the world today. Acclaimed historian Mark Mazower forces us to set aside the popular myth that the UN miraculously rose from the ashes of World War II as the guardian of a new and peaceful global order, offering instead a strikingly original interpretation of the UN's ideological roots, early history, and changing role in world affairs. Mazower brings the founding of the UN brilliantly to life. He shows how the UN's creators envisioned a world organization that would protect the interests of empire, yet how this imperial vision was decisively reshaped by the postwar reaffirmation of national sovereignty and the unanticipated rise of India and other former colonial powers. This is a story told through the clash of personalities, such as South African statesman Jan Smuts, who saw in the UN a means to protect the old imperial and racial order; Raphael Lemkin and Joseph Schechtman, Jewish intellectuals at odds over how the UN should combat genocide and other atrocities; and Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, who helped transform the UN from an instrument of empire into a forum for ending it. A much-needed historical reappraisal of the early development of this vital world institution, No Enchanted Palace reveals how the UN outgrew its origins and has exhibited an extraordinary flexibility that has enabled it to endure to the present day.--Publishers description
- 2013
This narrative delves into the powerful influences that have molded global governing institutions throughout history. It explores the intricate dynamics of politics, power, and societal change, offering a profound reflection on how these forces have impacted the course of nations. Through a compelling examination of historical events and ideological shifts, the book invites readers to consider the future of governance in a rapidly evolving world.
- 2008
Profiles the Reich's pre-World War II plans for transforming Eastern Europe, describing the considerable resources that were amassed for the endeavor while explaining how Nazi brutality and short-sightedness ultimately cost Germany its victories. 40,000 first printing.
- 2006
The narrative delves into the rich tapestry of a once-thriving city under Ottoman rule, highlighting its extraordinary cultural diversity. It portrays a society where various ethnicities and religions coexisted, from Egyptian merchants to Spanish-speaking rabbis, creating a unique atmosphere of tolerance and shared spirituality. The book examines the dynamics of this vibrant community and the factors that led to its decline amidst the rise of modern nationalism, offering a poignant reflection on the interplay of history, culture, and identity.
- 2005
Salonica. City of Ghosts
- 352 pages
- 13 hours of reading
From the author of the greatly praised "Dark Continent" comes a richly textured social history of the Aegean seaport that has been a crossroads of civilization since the dawn of Byzantium. of photos, 8 in full color.
- 2002
Focusing on a historically tumultuous region often referred to as the tinderbox of Europe, this award-winning work explores the complex factors that have led to prolonged conflicts and wider wars over centuries. It delves into the intricate political, social, and cultural dynamics that have shaped the area, providing a comprehensive understanding of its historical significance and the ongoing challenges it faces.
- 2001
The Balkans : from the end of Byzantium to the present day
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
Winner of the Wolfson History Prize, this book sheds light on what has been called the tinderbox of Europe, whose troubles have ignited wider wars for hundreds of years.

