Told in an informal, mesmerizing voice, Ouredník represents thetwentieth century in all its contradictions and grand illusions,demonstrating that nothing substantial has changed between 1900 and1999—humanity is still hopeful for the future and still mired inage-old conflicts. As he demonstrates that nothing can be reduced to asingle, true viewpoint, Ouredník mixes hard facts and idiosyncraticobservations, highlighting the horror and absurdity of the twentiethcentury and the further absurdity of attempting to narrate thishistory.