Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #187582 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-30
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 348 pages

Customer Reviews

An interesting book about the European microstates
The subject matter interests me to get and read this book. It not only provides interesting facts about each of the seven small European states listed on the title, but also attempts to portray their commonalities and differences in terms of geography, culture, historical forces that make them, etc. Some of the themes, because of the dual approaches, become a bit repetitive. There are some obvious typos that I find a bit distracting as well.

As another reviewer has suggested, the book could be more enhanced with the inclusion of other small dependencies and overseas territories, such as Gibraltar, Faroe Islands, Aland Islands, Jersey, etc., and be grouped with common themes, such as British overseas territories and Scandinavian islands. The seven states may be grouped in a similar way, such as microstates within Italy, microstates between two bigger neighbors (Andorra and Liechtenstein) and those shape by three cultural forces (Luxembourg and Malta).

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.

WELL RESEARCHED AND PLEASING TO READ
Excellent and well researched book that deals with the history and geography of the seven smallest states of Europe. Easy to read and really engaging. I honestly recommend this book to whoever wishes to learn about these real but not very well known independent states. Extremely interesting.