Historical Dictionary of Estonia

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 *