Showing Into the Carpathians: A Journey Through the Heart and History of Central and Eastern Europe (Part 1: The Eastern Mountains) by Alan E. Sparks

Part memoir, part travelogue, part natural and cultural history, The Carpathians describes a four-month-long hiking and wildlife research expedition along the length of the Carpathian Mountains, from Romania to Poland, some 1,700 miles as the crow flies. As readers follow the author on this stunning journey, they will encounter the many natural wonders and colorful inhabitants of the Carpathian landscape both human and non-human while gaining deep insights into the historical and mythological forces that have shaped, and continue to shape, the nations, cultures, and psyches along the way including, for example, the roots of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia that are sprouting thorny shoots today. The Carpathians will appeal to travel and adventure enthusiasts; nature and animal lovers; history, folklore, and mythology buffs; people of Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian, Slovakian, and Czech descent living in the West; and retiring baby boomers."