Estonia 2nd Ed. (Book 18 Of Cultures Of The World )

Description: Introduces the geography, history, government, economy, culture, and people of Estonia, the most northerly and least populated of the three Baltic states.

From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10-A book that covers most of the topics needed for social-studies reports: land, history, economy, people, lifestyles, the arts, etc. In general, the text is good, and Estonian names and terms are properly spelled. However, in some places readers will probably get bogged down by too many names or details. The chapter on the arts, for example, tends to read like an encyclopedia article for adults, and it seems unwise to use terms such as "runic verses," "cubism," and "Baroque" style of architecture without an explanation of them. On the other hand, the pages on agriculture are excellent. While most of the color photographs are fine, the captions for a few are wrong or misleading. Estonians will be justifiably insulted by the photograph of a member of the kaitseliit, a militant, right-wing, antiforeigner group, used to illustrate how independence has allowed people "to rediscover their own ethnic identity, as well as to learn more about the history, language, and culture of Estonia." Equally deplorable is the use of a photograph of two young men, one in a Soviet military uniform, to introduce a chapter on the Estonians. The glossary consists almost exclusively of Estonian words, assuming that readers are familiar with terms such as "poll tax" and understand the significance of the European Union, which Estonia hopes to join.
Elizabeth Talbot, University of Illinois, Champaign
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.