 | Estonia and the Estonians : Second Edition, Updated Estonia and the Estonians provides the first compendious survey in any language of Estonian history, from prehistoric times to the twenty-first century. Estonia's strategic geopolitical location--a crossroads where the major powers of northeastern Europe have struggled for influence--and the small number of ethnic Estonians are crucial factors that have shaped the history of the area and its inhabitants. The book emphasizes the period since the mid-nineteenth century, when a national movement calling for Estonian cultural and political autonomy began to emerge. During the two world wars, Estonia gained and lost political self-determination. Yet a modern Estonian culture was firmly established, and a strong sense of national identity survived the Soviet era. Toivo U. Raun was born in Tartu, Estonia, and is a professor specializing in Modern Baltic and Finnish history. Among his other publications are Soviet Deportations in Estonia: Impact and Legacy (coedited with Kristi Kukk) and Russification in the Baltic Provinces and Finland, 1855-1914 (Edward C. Thaden, ed.). |
