Twenty Years of Balkan Tangle (ePub)

M. Edith Durham, commonly referred to as M. E. Durham, was an eminent British traveler, artist, and writer, renowned for her extensive anthropological work in the Balkans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on December 8, 1863, in London, Durham's fascination with the Balkan region was fueled by her first visit to the area in 1900. Over the next two decades, she would return numerous times, immersing herself in the local cultures and politics, which served as inspirations for her writing and sketches.

Her seminal work, 'Twenty Years of Balkan Tangle,' published in 1920, provides an invaluable account of the complexities and convolutions of Balkan politics and society. The book showcases Durham's remarkable ability to observe and articulate the intricate interplay of ethnic tensions, historical context, and the repercussions of the Great Powers' politics on the Balkans. Durham's work, characterized by its vivid narrative and insightful analysis, has been widely regarded as an indispensable resource for anthropologists, historians, and political scientists studying the region. Despite her unique literary contributions and her advocacy for the peoples of the Balkans, Durham's legacy as an author is underscored by her commitment to presenting a nuanced, empathetic understanding of a region caught in the throes of change.