A Balkan Summer

High summer in the Balkans and George East arrives in Bulgaria to investigate an apparently potty scheme to rescue a dying mountain village. While there, the eccentric travel writer gets to know an array of fascinating locals from the President Putin lookalike and Meerkat soundalike to Mr Rotavator and the man who takes his milk direct from cows. Beyond the village, George discovers much about the little-known country that Bill Bryson described as a ‘near-death experience.’ The book also contains historical and cultural notes and traditional recipes. In his time in Bulgaria, George finds himself falling under the spell of an ancient kingdom and its people... A Note from the George is at his best when confronted with new surroundings and Bulgaria and the Balkans caused this torrent of enthusiasm for a country untouched by commerciality and modern falseness. Though the people are poor beyond anything that the west can imagine, they welcomed him with very open arms.