Product Description

• There are half a million machine guns in Swiss homes
• Turkey has 30,000 troops deployed for use against an EU country
• David Hasselhoff had a role in ending the Cold War
• Snails are a type of fish under EU law

From the railway in Hungary run entirely by children to the British comedy sketch, unknown in the UK, but watched by millions across Europe every New Year’s Eve, Emma Hartley reveals the inequalities and absurdities of Europe today. Covering everything from poverty to pop music via politics and pirates, 50 Facts You Need to Know: Europe paints a picture of an astonishingly varied continent.

Find out where the worst place in Europe is, why Germans are required to pay a tax direct to the church – unless they declare themselves unbelievers – and what the twelve stars on the EU flag actually represent. This is a sometimes shocking, often surprising and enjoyable guide to the Europe you thought you knew.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #347012 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author
Emma Hartley is a journalist and author. She has worked for the Daily Telegraph, the Evening Standard, the Independent (as a leader writer and as a reporter) and The Times, where she is now a news sub-editor.

Customer Reviews

Great read
I highly recommend this book.

Fascinating, packed with facts and background detail that goes well beyond the borders of Europe. I am now armed with conversation topics that I will unleash when the in-laws are around next.

Great stuff
Bursting with fascinating observations and facts about the Europe I knew very little about. Well researched and packed with sex and anecdotal quirkiness - like revealing the country that pays for the replies to father christmas's letters ... - loved it.
Never boring, great to dip in and out of.