In the absence of functioning treaties or other guarantees of peace, let us pray for long-somnolent borders that they may remain in blissful turpitude.  I singled out this triologism a month or two before a ‘long-somnolent border’ woke up to the sound of ordnance somewhere in central Asia, duly going ‘critical overnight’.    

Allies became enemies and a long-somnolent border zone could go critical overnight.

For a great sampling of Winder’s triologisms, and a quote-packed tribute to his earlier book on Germany, see our bestellar review.

Source: Simon Winder, Danubia: A personal history of Habsburg Europe (London: Picador, 2013), p. 8