This book is the author's personal testimony about the dramatic events in post-communist Albania. It is an extensive report by the eyewitness journalist, a timeless journey in which he recounts what he experienced on the spot, what he learned behind the scenes, and all that was narrated to him by the protagonists of the crisis.

Stavros Tzimas knows the Balkans as few Greek, or even foreign, journalists do. Step by step, he presents us with the mural of the neighboring country, destroyed by 50 years of communist dictatorship in its most paranoid and fearful version, which tried, and to a large extent succeeded, to heal its wounds after going through fire and iron, with violent uprisings and clashes that almost led it to destruction.

The author analyzes the situation in Albania immediately after the fall of the Hoxha regime, the dangerously increasing tension in Greek-Albanian relations during the period 1993-1995, its collapse in 1997 with the well-known pyramid scheme case, as well as incidents of Greek nationalism by some circles in Greece regarding the "chained sister."

The book includes a particularly useful timeline of the Albanian crisis as well as an index of names, elements that are particularly useful for the reader who desires in-depth information.

As Alexis Papachelas, who prefaces the book, characteristically writes: "Modern Greek nationalism, with its fostering of irredentist frenzy and revisionism on the issue of borders with Albania, led us many times, during the examined period, to the brink of a frontal clash with the neighboring country and acted as a communicating vessel with the nationalism and irredentism of the other side. This issue, which we tend to push away from our collective memory, must particularly concern politicians, society, the media, and the academic community within the framework of a calm reflection. The primary material that Stavros Tzimas brings with this book is invaluable."