In this first-ever complete history of Kosovo, Noel Malcolm carefully sifts facts from fiction and lays to rest many of the false claims which have bedevilled all discussion of the region. A triumph of narrative clarity, his account is based on a profound knowledge of both the original sources and the existing historical literature in every Balkan language. The story of Kosovo includes the key episodes of two national histories: the rise of the medieval Serbian state, and the making of modern Albania. This book also brings to life the fascinating story of Ottoman rule in Europe. It presents not only a crucial part of the background to the modern Yugoslav crisis, but also a vital element in the whole pattern of south-east European history.