The book fills a gap in the historiography as it is the first in depth English language study of Romanian history between the wars.
The book is a classic study of a nation torn between the competing spheres of influence of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
Deletant is a leading historian of Romania and was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 and 'Ordinul pentru merit' (Order of Merit) with the rank of commander for services to Romanian democracy in 2000 by President Emil Constantinescu of Romania
