Read Around Europe Challenge
Read at least one book by an author from each country in Europe.
Best books from Europe (2894)
2301.
The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy by Jacob Burckhardt EN
Country: Europe / 
Switzerland
Switzerland
Description:
For nineteenth-century Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt, the Italian Renaissance was nothing less than the beginning of the modern world - a world in which flourishing individualism and the competition for fame radically transformed science, the arts, and politics. In this landmark work he depicts the Italian city-states of Florence, Venice and Rome as providing the seeds of a new form of society, and traces the rise of the creative individual, from Dante to Michelangelo. A fascinating description of an era of cultural transition, this nineteenth-century masterpiece was to become the most infl... continue
2302.
In Defense of Witches : The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial by Mona Chollet EN
Country: Europe / Switzerland
Switzerland
Description:
Witches continue to hold a unique fascination for many: as fairy tale villains, practitioners of pagan religion, as well as feminist icons. Witches are both the ultimate victim and the stubborn, elusive rebel. With arguments that range from the scholarly to the cultural, this book seeks to unite the mythic image of the witch with modern women who seek to live their lives on their own terms
2304.
A Perfect Waiter by Alain Claude Sulzer EN
Country: Europe / Switzerland
Switzerland
Description:
It is 1966. Erneste works in a grand hotel in Switzerland. He is the 'perfect waiter', a model of order in every way. But inwardly this polite, withdrawn man has been caught in the grip of an overwhelming passion that began in the summer of 1935. Going down to the lakeside back then to meet new staff members off the boat, Erneste sees a tall young man, Jakob, and falls hopelessly in love. For Jakob the affair is just a fling, but for Erneste it is true love. When the great German writer Julius Klinger arrives at the hotel, seeking sanctuary from Hitler's Germany, his gaze, too, lights on Jakob... continue
2305.
Die Panne by Friedrich Dürrenmatt DE
Country: Europe / Switzerland
Switzerland
Description:
Weil sein Auto eine Panne hat, gerät Alfredo Traps in eine Villa, in der vier ältere Herren ein Gerichtsspiel abhalten, das ihnen, ehemaligen Richtern, Staatsanwälten und Verteidigern – zum Zeitvertreib dient. Traps übernimmt die Rolle des Angeklagten, und man versichert ihm, eine Schuld werde sich schon finden lassen.
2307.
To the Back of Beyond : A Novel by Peter Stamm EN
Country: Europe / Switzerland
Switzerland
Description:
Man Booker Prize nominee Peter Stamm explores in his sixth novel what it means to be in the middle of nowhere, in mind and in body. Happily married with two children and a comfortable home in a Swiss town, Thomas and Astrid enjoy a glass of wine in their garden on a night like any other. Called back to the house by their son's cries, Astrid goes inside, expecting her husband to join her in a bit. But Thomas gets up and, after a brief moment of hesitation, opens the gate and walks out. No longer bound by the ties of his everyday life--family, friends, work--Thomas begins a winding trek across t... continue
2308.
Julius : Roman by Christian Zehnder DE
Country: Europe / Switzerland
Switzerland
Description:
Über Abschied und Aufbruch, Freundschaft und Liebe "Julius" ist die Geschichte eines jungen Mannes, der hinaus ins Leben tritt. Und es ist die Geschichte einer wunderbaren Freundschaft zwischen Julius und Martin. Es ist auch die tragische Liebesgeschichte zwischen Julius und Jadwiga und die nur vermeintlich geglückte Liebesgeschichte zwischen Julius und Caroline. Julius ist ein zeitgenössischer, zugleich aber unzeitgemässer Romantiker, der von der Idylle seines bisherigen Lebens Abschied nimmt. Christian Zehnder erzählt ebenso dicht wie poetisch. Er hat einen kleinen, höchst feinen Bildungsrom... continue
2309.
Chariots of The Gods by Erich von Däniken EN
Country: Europe / Switzerland
Switzerland
Description:
All over the world there are fantastic ruins and objects that cannot be explained by conventional history, archaeology or religion. In the ground-breaking Chariots of the Gods, Erich von Daniken provides answers to these questions...why do religious texts often refer to Gods who descend from fiery chariots? Why do modern space launch sites look like constructions on the plains of Nazca in Peru? Was God an astronaut? By looking at human history and the ruins of ancient civilisations with an open mind, Erich von Daniken offers a new solution to these eternal mysteries in Chariots of the Gods. Wh... continue
2310.
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton EN
Country: Europe / Switzerland
Switzerland
Description:
Bestselling author Alain de Botton has written about love, travel, status and how philosophy can console us. Now he turns his attention to one of our most intense but often hidden love affairs: with our houses and their furnishings. He asks: What makes a house truly beautiful?Why are many new houses so ugly?Why do we argue so bitterly about sofas and pictures � and can differences of taste ever be satisfactorily resolved?Will minimalism make us happier than ornaments? To answer these questions and many more, de Botton looks at buildings across the world, from medieval wooden huts to modern sky... continue