Anne Applebaum is an American journalist, historian, and author known for her expertise in Eastern European history and politics. She has written extensively about the impact of totalitarian regimes, particularly in Poland and the Soviet Union. Her notable works include "Gulag: A History," which explores the Soviet labor camp system, and "Iron Curtain," which examines the post-World War II history of Eastern Europe. In addition to her books, Applebaum is a contributing editor at The Atlantic and has written for various publications, including The Washington Post and The New York Review of Books. She has received several awards for her work, including the Pulitzer Prize for her historical writing.