'If you read one book on the European Union, this should be it. By explaining how the EU came to be what it is through history, he illuminates what it is now. An outstanding work of distilled scholarship.' Timothy Garton Ash, New York University 'Based on extensive research, this is a clear and nuanced account of the improbable and incremental process of European integration which has made the EU into an essential player on the international scene. The book is especially useful for teaching since it contains review questions, explanatory boxes, a detailed timeline, numerous images, and an extensive bibliography.' Konrad H. Jarausch, author of Embattled Europe: A Progressive Alternative 'An original and accessible survey of the accomplishments and limitations of the European Union, its steady institutional expansion and shifting goals, its utopian aspirations and political compromises. Patel's book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how the EU has come to shape economics, politics and society across Europe.' Mary Nolan, author of The Transatlantic Century: Europe and America, 18902010
