Product Description

This unique book examines the history, culture and inner workings of the seven smallest independent countries in Europe. These are among the oldest lands in Europe, despite their diversity, they have much in common. Most have relatively high per capita incomes and life expectancies, and relatively low unemployment. This narrative first presents the many unique issues that confront small countries, including maintaining their independence, economic viability, native languages, and forms of government. The second part of the book describes each microstate in turn, showing how each one has met these challenges and adapted over time. These concise and engaging histories contain cultural information on subjects including the arts, gastronomy and popular tourist sites.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #593275 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 362 pages

Customer Reviews

A Masterful Geographical and Historical Work
In researching sources for information on Malta for a forthcoming excursion after the Universala Kongreso de Esperanto next year, I came across Tom Eccardt's "Secrets of the Seven Smallest States of Europe." I not only found everything I needed to know about Malta, but was fascinated by his treatment of the other six small states. This is an excellently researched work, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in geography or history.
William R. Harmon
Chief Delegate of Universala Esperanto-Asocio for USA

A book every library should have!
I need to start by admitting that the author of "Secrets of the Seven Smallest States of Europe: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City" (Thomas M. Eccardt) is a high-school friend of my wife. That having been noted, I would recommend this volume even if I had no idea who the author was.

The small nations of Europe (as well as small nations in general) have held a fascination for me for years. When we received this book, I read it avidly, and was able to learn fascinating information about the character and history of various of the small states of Europe, despite my already vaster than normal knowledge of these countries. I felt that I was transported to the countries he was describing. My wife had to beg me to finish so that she could read it.

Mr. Eccardt has used his time well in researching the subjects thoroughly. He includes not only information the traveler venturing into these countries would want to have at hand, but historical, geographical, and practical information any "armchair traveler" would want as well. Students needing to write a paper on one of these countries would do well to consult this tome in their preparation. Writers wanting to set a novel in one of these countries (or in a fictitious state in Europe) could glean useful information for the setting of said work from this book. If you plan to go to Europe, take this book with you!

I personally would have loved to have access to this kind of resource when I was in junior high school, high school, and even in college. Every library of any worth should rush to place this book on its shelves.

Microstates deserve more analysis of this kind
This fascinating compendium fills an important gap in the area of political and cultural geography. One hopes for a further augmented second edition that covers in more detail the Order of Malta (a sovereign entity), the Channel Islands (which are personal dependencies of the British Crown, not part of the UK and EU - and beyond the jurisdiction of the UK Parliament) and perhaps such unusual European enclaves as Campione d'Italia (a piece of Italy within Switzerland that functions as a quasi-Swiss jurisdiction).

Stephen Klimczuk, Alexandria, Virginia and Victoria, BC