By Miranda Vickers. Columbia University Press. All one needed to know was the history of the region for the last thousand years. For policy makers it is a necessity. But others, too, can turn to this well-written, readable book with pleasure.
History matters in the Balkans.
The locals say so themselves. Events that happened six centuries ago get more attention than the prospect of the province disintegrating next week. Every journalist who has reported from the former Yugoslavia has heard the cliche. Because of the battle of Kosovo Polje,'' or ''We must avenge Kosovo Polje,'' or some such. How pleasing, then, to read in Malcolm's book a movielike account of that battle, which pitted Serbs led by Prince Lazar against Turks led by Sultan Murat.