Twenty Years of Balkan Tangle

"Twenty Years of Balkan Tangle" by M. E. (Mary Edith) Durham is a historical exploration of the tangled web of politics and society in the Balkans during the two decades before World War I. Narrated through the author's experiences traveling in areas like Montenegro and Serbia, the book shows how tensions and strong national feelings shaped the region's story. We travel with the author as she arrives in Montenegro around 1900, looking to recover and instead finding a deep interest in the Near East. Her travels through beautiful landscapes and varied cultures highlight the growing disagreements among Balkan countries and the coming threat of a larger war. Through her eyes, we see the people, their traditions, and the fierce political fights that defined the Balkans, influenced by past events, national pride, and outside powers.