Historical Dictionary of Estonia

by Toivo Miljan

Overview

Estonia is a small European Union country (population 1.3 million but physically the size of Netherlands and Switzerland) at the historic interface of East and West, Europe and Russia, free from Soviet occupation only for twenty-five years. Estonia boasts many notable achievements in the past has one of the most advanced economies in the region. It has made impressive progress politically, having shed a half century of communist domination and shifted to democracy, making it a model for other transitional states. It is at the forefront of Internet services: its secure digital ID cards are used for all interactions with government agencies, for voting at elections, and among government agencies, as well as in private banking.

This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Estonia covers its history through a chronology, an introductory essay, glossary, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Estonia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810872448
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/21/2015
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of Europe
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	646
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 6.90(d)

About the Author

Toivo Miljan is Professor Emeritus at Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario. He is the founding Director of EuroFaculty to restructure teaching and learning of Economics, Law and Political Science at the national universities of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Foreword, Jon Woronoff
Preface
Reader’s Note
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Maps
Chronology
Introduction
THE DICTIONARY
Appendixes
Heads of Government
Foreign Ministers
Estonian Participation in Elections
Glossary
Bibliography
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

The second edition, updating the first after a decade, continues in the publisher's ‘Historical Dictionaries of Europe’ series. These ubiquitous dictionaries all follow the same arrangement, providing a few maps, a chronology, and an introductory essay followed by the dictionary section, political appendixes, a glossary, and a bibliography. As the editor points out, the revised dictionary section offers more ‘persons, places, and events’ than the 2004 edition. Miljan describes himself as a native of Estonia who returned to his home country, and his introduction brings events up to March 2015. The entries, necessarily brief, cover a galaxy of information. For example, one learns that Neeme Järvi (Detroit Symphony Orchestra emeritus music director) is Estonian and largely responsible for introducing the music world to the work of Estonian musicians. Entries shed light on Estonian exiles, WW II, the German occupation, displaced persons, Finno-Ugric peoples, and many historical topics pertaining to the USSR.. . .The bibliography…provides a convenient way to verify the spelling of names. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic audiences and general readers.

Choice Reviews

The second edition, updating the first after a decade, continues in the publisher's ‘Historical Dictionaries of Europe’ series.  These ubiquitous dictionaries all follow the same arrangement, providing a few maps, a chronology, and an introductory essay followed by the dictionary section, political appendixes, a glossary, and a bibliography.  As the editor points out, the revised dictionary section offers more ‘persons, places, and events’ than the 2004 edition.  Miljan describes himself as a native of Estonia who returned to his home country, and his introduction brings events up to March 2015.  The entries, necessarily brief, cover a galaxy of information.  For example, one learns that Neeme Järvi (Detroit Symphony Orchestra emeritus music director) is Estonian and largely responsible for introducing the music world to the work of Estonian musicians.  Entries shed light on Estonian exiles, WW II, the German occupation, displaced persons, Finno-Ugric peoples, and many historical topics pertaining to the USSR.. . .The bibliography…provides a convenient way to verify the spelling of names. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic audiences and general readers.

Choice

The second edition, updating the first after a decade, continues in the publisher's ‘Historical Dictionaries of Europe’ series.  These ubiquitous dictionaries all follow the same arrangement, providing a few maps, a chronology, and an introductory essay followed by the dictionary section, political appendixes, a glossary, and a bibliography.  As the editor points out, the revised dictionary section offers more ‘persons, places, and events’ than the 2004 edition.  Miljan describes himself as a native of Estonia who returned to his home country, and his introduction brings events up to March 2015.  The entries, necessarily brief, cover a galaxy of information.  For example, one learns that Neeme Järvi (Detroit Symphony Orchestra emeritus music director) is Estonian and largely responsible for introducing the music world to the work of Estonian musicians.  Entries shed light on Estonian exiles, WW II, the German occupation, displaced persons, Finno-Ugric peoples, and many historical topics pertaining to the USSR.. . .The bibliography…provides a convenient way to verify the spelling of names. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic audiences and general readers.

CHOICE

...an informative reference work focused on the present state of the Estonian nation and its orientation toward the future....this work is a welcome addition to the growing body of reference works about Estonia and should be considered an integral part of any well-rounded reference collection on Eastern Europe.

Slavic and East European Information Resources

Written by a noted Estonian native and political science scholar, this "historical dictionary" includes much more than basic dictionary definitions. The extended definitions...[are] detailed and often contain useful cross-references....This volume would most likely be of interest to libraries...that support study and scholarship relating to the Baltic States.

"American Reference Books Annual"

Written by a noted Estonian native and political science scholar, this "historical dictionary" includes much more than basic dictionary definitions. The extended definitions...[are] detailed and often contain useful cross-references....This volume would most likely be of interest to libraries...that support study and scholarship relating to the Baltic States.

Reference Reviews