An Atlas of Extinct Countries
The remarkable (and occasionally ridiculous) stories of 48 nations that fell off the map.

“Countries are just daft stories we tell each other. They’re all equally implausible once you get up close.”

Countries die. Sometimes it’s murder, sometimes it’s by accident, and sometimes it’s because they were so ludicrous they didn’t deserve to exist in the first place. This is an atlas of 48 nations that fell off the map. Their causes of death range from the implausible (jerky prices) to the unfortunate (too evil) to the downright bizarre (the flip of a coin). The polite way of writing an obituary is: dwell on the good bits, gloss over the embarrassing stuff. This book refuses to do so, because these dead nations are so ridiculous that it’s impossible to skip the embarrassing stuff.

★ “This book is a sparkling gem.”—Booklist (Starred Review)

“Perfect for fans of Atlas Obscura.”—Publishers Weekly

1136349345
An Atlas of Extinct Countries
The remarkable (and occasionally ridiculous) stories of 48 nations that fell off the map.

“Countries are just daft stories we tell each other. They’re all equally implausible once you get up close.”

Countries die. Sometimes it’s murder, sometimes it’s by accident, and sometimes it’s because they were so ludicrous they didn’t deserve to exist in the first place. This is an atlas of 48 nations that fell off the map. Their causes of death range from the implausible (jerky prices) to the unfortunate (too evil) to the downright bizarre (the flip of a coin). The polite way of writing an obituary is: dwell on the good bits, gloss over the embarrassing stuff. This book refuses to do so, because these dead nations are so ridiculous that it’s impossible to skip the embarrassing stuff.

★ “This book is a sparkling gem.”—Booklist (Starred Review)

“Perfect for fans of Atlas Obscura.”—Publishers Weekly

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An Atlas of Extinct Countries

An Atlas of Extinct Countries

by Gideon Defoe
An Atlas of Extinct Countries

An Atlas of Extinct Countries

by Gideon Defoe

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Overview

The remarkable (and occasionally ridiculous) stories of 48 nations that fell off the map.

“Countries are just daft stories we tell each other. They’re all equally implausible once you get up close.”

Countries die. Sometimes it’s murder, sometimes it’s by accident, and sometimes it’s because they were so ludicrous they didn’t deserve to exist in the first place. This is an atlas of 48 nations that fell off the map. Their causes of death range from the implausible (jerky prices) to the unfortunate (too evil) to the downright bizarre (the flip of a coin). The polite way of writing an obituary is: dwell on the good bits, gloss over the embarrassing stuff. This book refuses to do so, because these dead nations are so ridiculous that it’s impossible to skip the embarrassing stuff.

★ “This book is a sparkling gem.”—Booklist (Starred Review)

“Perfect for fans of Atlas Obscura.”—Publishers Weekly


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781609457662
Publisher: Europa Editions, Incorporated
Publication date: 03/15/2022
Pages: 304
Sales rank: 242,386
Product dimensions: 5.20(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Gideon Defoe is the author of The Pirates! book series and wrote the screenplay for the Oscar nominated Aardman film The Pirates in an Adventure with Scientists. He has written about how animals have sex and penned a computer game tie-in novel for Gollancz. He does film development work with Locksmith Animation and Studio Canal, and is developing a sitcom with BBC studios.

Table of Contents

Introduction 15

Chancers & Crackpots 19

1 The Kingdom of Sarawak

2 The Kingdom of Bavaria

3 The Islands of Refreshment

4 The Kingdom of Corsica

5 The State of Muskogee

6 The Republic of Sonora

7 The Kingdom of Araucanía & Patagonia

8 The Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace

9 Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

10 The Principality of Trinidad

11 The Hume Endeavour

12 The Kingdom of Sedang

Mistakes & Micronations 75

13 The Republic of Cospaia

14 New Caledonia

15 The Principality of Elba

16 Franceville

17 The Republic of Vemerana

18 The Soviet Republic of Soldiers & Fortress-Builders of Naissaar

19 Neutral Moresnet

20 The Republic of Perloja

21 The Quilombo of Palmares

22 The Free State of Bottleneck

23 The Tangier International Zone

24 Ottawa Civic Hospital Maternity Ward

Lies & Lost Kingdoms 127

25 The Great Republic of Rough & Ready

26 Poyais

27 The Republic of Goust

28 Libertalia

29 The Kingdom of Sikkim

30 The Kingdom of Axum

31 Dahomey

32 The Most Serene Republic of Venice

33 The Golden Kingdom of Silla

34 Khwarezmia

Puppets & Political Footballs 173

35 The Republic of Formosa

36 The Republic of West Florida

37 Manchukuo

38 The Riograndense Republic

39 Maryland in Africa

40 The Republic of Texas

41 The Congo Free State

42 Ruthenia (Carpatho-Ukraine)

43 People's Republic of Tannu Tuva

44 The Republic of Salò

45 The German Democratic Republic

46 Bophuthatswana

47 Republic of Crimea

48 Yugoslavia

Flags 237

Anthems 241

Select Bibliography 243

Acknowledgements 247

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