Status Updates From Black Lamb and Grey Falcon

West writes of Bishop Strossmayer of the Roman Catholic Church - and a pro-Croat - 'We regard him with suspicion, we look for the snake beneath the flower. All of us know what it is to be moon-struck by charmers and to misinterpret their charm as a promise... and all of us have found later that that charm made no promise and meant nothing, absolutely nothing. Hence the biographies of charmers...

Topola

Author and her husband discuss just how Serbian some things meant for the entirety of Yugoslavia are crafted. She expresses disgust over wreaths at the Mestrovitch monument delivered from fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Rightfully so, since she identifies they will use Yugoslavians as pawns.

Belgrade 2

Author muses on capitalism and industrialization. Honestly, she makes a lot of observations that are relevant today... and this book was written almost 100 years ago about a nation that no longer exists. Funny how we never learn. Probably because it wouldn't line the pockets of the people in charge.

This extract details Croatia’s internal struggle for free speech and a free press - notably against the Roman Catholic Church which had become predominantly Italian in the 20th century.

A heated debate between Valetta and Constantine.

That was a long introduction...I'll fully read it after the book.