In Europe
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In Europa is a book by a Dutch author Geert Mak. The British reviews were generally enthusiastic, although for the professional historian or political scientist the book has little to offer: “In Europe hardly breaks new ground historically” writes Martin Woollacott in an otherwise positive review in ‘’The Guardian’’ (July 14, 2007). The work should be taken for what it is: something between journalism and travel literature. Publisher’s Weekly asks: “is it a history book, a travelogue, a memoir?”. Mak himself sees his work as journalism. In an interview with a Dutch journalism trade-journal he says: “my approach is journalistic. My books are filled with newspaper tricks”. Historians are generally cautious when it comes to judging Mak’s work. Hermann von der Dunk, emeritus professor of history at Utrecht University says about Mak: “it is well written, and historically correct, but it is not what I would call academic history. There is no analysis of historical development” ('’Academische Boekengids’’, March 2005). A television series based on the book ‘’In Europe’’ received criticism of professional historians because it was filled with factual errors and easy cliché , and argued that Mak is not familiar with the current debates on history ('’Historisch Nieuwsblad’’, December 2007). Nevertheless the same Historisch Nieuwsblad named Mak historian of the year in 2004. . Mak received an honorary degree from the Open University the same year.
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