Geert Ludzer Mak, born in 1946, is one of the most popular Dutch journalists and writers. He is active in many areas of civil society, and his contribution to the unbiased interpretation of European history is particularly significant. In 2004 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Open University of Heerlen for his work in historiography, and in April 2009 he received the French Order of the Legion of Honor for personal achievements, the gift of writing and the contribution of his book In Europe: A Journey through the Twentieth Century to understanding in the European Union. This book became an international bestseller and was adapted into a popular television series. In 2015, he received the Golden Goose Feather for his outstanding contribution to the development and popularization of written poetry in the Netherlands and the world. His works have been translated into more than twenty languages. A Journey Without John was published in 2010. Geert Mak lives in Amsterdam and Friesland.