Only the Nails Remain: Scenes from the Balkan Wars

Thus far, primarily journalists and diplomats have provided us with insiders' accounts of the devastating wars in the Balkans during the past decade. With this extraordinary book, Merrill, a poet, author and translator, has broadened the discussion to include not only politics and history, but culture and literature, too. Unlike many other books on the former Yugoslavia, Merrill's was not hastily written in the year after his duty in the war zone. Instead, it contains ripe reflections on his 10 journeys to the Balkans between 1992 and 1996. Traveling, often on foot, in Slovenia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia, Merrill sought out artists and literary types; he also spoke with a broad array of locals, encountered by chance or introduced to him by his contacts. The beautifully written scenes from his travels are keenly observed and insightful. Perhaps the most striking aspect of this collection is the authenticity of the voices Merrill records. Reported dialogues are uncannily familiar to anyone who knows the Balkans. (Says one Slovenian who returned home after years abroad: ""After all the battles you fight for irrational reasons, you have no time left for rationality."") Like Rebecca West's Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, this book might very well become a modern classic about what once again seems a painful and incomprehensible corner of Europe. But it does not suffer from West's crippling na vet in accepting a single perspective on Balkan history and destiny. What distinguishes Merrill's sweeping account is his ability to present varying sides and a range of authentic voices. (Nov.)