One Man's Europe by Gordon Nicholas is an account of the author’s travels around the continent after the end of World War II. The book covers a timeframe of almost 20 years. Europe was still recovering from the war, and although healing and rebuilding were occurring, reminders of the war were to be found everywhere. Furthermore, a new threat was emerging as the Soviet Union, the Iron Curtain, and the threat of nuclear weapons cast shadows over Europe. It was also a time of new technology, such as Sputnik, and it was against this backdrop that Nicholas traveled. The book reflects what he found, including numerous photographs, with many in color, which illustrate the then-current state of Europe as seen through the author’s eyes.

Lovers of travel, especially European travel, need to read One Man's Europe. Unlike many travel books, it’s not merely a dry recitation of what the author saw. Gordon Nicholas writes about life in Europe in post-World War II days, but throughout the book, he interweaves his findings and reflections, as well as the historical climate. Those who are interested in what living in the countries of Holland, Belgium, and Switzerland were like, as well as the cities of Rome, Paris, and Vienna, will find this book fascinating. They will see, through Nicholas’ eyes, the people of Europe, as well as the places to be found on the continent. The many photographs are beautiful and also tell much about life in the areas the author describes. Because Nicholas did his traveling in the 1950s and 1960s it will be interesting for those who are familiar with modern-day Europe to compare that with what it was like in previous years.

One Man's Europe chronicles Gordon Nicholas' travels through Europe over 20 years, beginning in the post-war 1950s. Gordon Nicholas exposes historical facts, personal viewpoints, the impact of World War II, and people's daily lives in terms of the locations he visited. The ruins and buildings shrouded in black soot in Rotterdam lead him to confront the brutal reality of war. He had the good fortune to visit The Hague, a spacious and cheery city where young and old coexisted in peaceful harmony. A discussion concerning religious exploitation is sparked by the devotion of pilgrims to the purportedly miraculous water in Lourdes. Ultimately, Gordon continually gained fresh insights into the similarities between all people and the meaninglessness of boundaries and nationalities through every new encounter he had and the places he visited.

This book has a lot of positive things going for it. One is the writing style, which provides a well-balanced blend of deep insight, historical information, and evocative descriptions of the objects and places he observed on the journey. The author's writing comes across as genuine and unique since he provides personal viewpoints and open comments about the areas he travels to. Gordon Nicholas is the type of insightful thinker I like, with his sensible words on embracing a unity that transcends national boundaries, the futility of war, and other important issues relating to the kindness inherent in all people. One Man's Europe is a treasure trove for travelers and adventure seekers, with fascinating comments about gastronomy and architecture from many areas of Europe and even as far as Cairo. You not only travel with the author, but you also escape to a different historical era.