Europe Central

Set in Central Europe during the 20th century, Europe Central follows a wide array of characters, from generals and police officers to poets, artists and musicians. It is concerned with the moral decisions people make in the most trying circumstances, particularly in wartime. Many historical figures appear, including the composer Dmitri Shostakovich, the artist Käthe Kollwitz, the poet Anna Akhmatova and the German general Friedrich Paulus. Vollmann says in an afterword that, although heavily researched and largely true to history, the book should be read as fiction.