Description
As the seventh and probably last state to arise from the ruins of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo is the newest country in Europe. For centuries, Kosovo, also known as Kosova, was part of the Ottoman Empire, and for most of the 20th century, it was a province of what was once Yugoslavia. After the military conflict in 1998-1999 and a period of administration by the United Nations, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. Focusing not only on Kosovo's turbulent recent years, the second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Kosovo also relates the country's rich culture and long history. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 400 cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, places, and events; institutions and organizations; and political, economic, social, cultural, and religious facets. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Kosovo.
About the Author
Robert Elsie is the author of over 50 books and numerous articles. He has served as a translator and interpreter of Albanian, most recently before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and he presently works for the Hague Tribunal.
Reviews
Helps to fill a large gap in English-language materials on this region. * American Reference Books Annual *
Highly recommended. * CHOICE *
This is an extremely objective reference work, whose useful information will be lasting. * Central and Eastern European Review *
Updating the 2004 edition, released when Kosovo was still a Serbian province, this indispensable subject guide aims to increase our understanding of Europe's newest country while incorporating developments occurring since its February 2008 declaration of independence. Elsie (Historical Dictionary of Albania) opens with a chronology, dating from 547 C.E. Four hundred alphabetically organized and highly accessible entries follow, each running several paragraphs and offering a summary explanation of the people, places, organizations, events, and customs that have defined the country's turbulent history. Perhaps of greatest value to researchers is the spectacular, thematically divided 89-page bibliography. An essential reference for a previously underrecognized subject. * Library Journal *
This dictionary covers Kosovo's complicated past as a nation of mostly ethnic Albanians who have been under the rule of the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian Empires as well as a part of Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and, most recently, Serbia. The entangled intricacy of this past is exemplified in the introductory material. The chronology that follows "Acronyms and Abbreviations" and "Maps" is more than 25 pages long, with more than half of that covering just 1990 to the present. Events range from Slavic settlement of the area in the year 547 to the 2010 arrest of the head of the Kosovo Central Bank for corruption. In addition to history, the alphabetically arranged and heavily cross-referenced entries in the body of the dictionary cover political, social, and biographical topics. Additional material includes an appendix of major place-names in the different languages of Kosovo, lists of government officials as well as political parties and organizations, and a comprehensive bibliography of nearly 100 pages with its own table of contents. Overall, this would be a good addition for both public and academic libraries. * Booklist *
The first edition of this book (CH, Apr'05, 42-4390) was titled Historical Dictionary of Kosova. Elsie (independent scholar) has renamed this second edition to reflect the official name of the country, which became independent in 2008. Nearly 100 entries have been added, for a total of 475, the majority of which deal with persons, historical and contemporary, who have had some impact on the development of Kosovo; most relate to Albanian Kosovars. Boldface type within articles indicates cross-references. The section on acronyms not only lists the name equivalent but also gives the English translation. The extensive bibliography now includes works in languages other than English. A chronology that begins in 547 becomes much more detailed through the 1980s up to July 2010. The introduction gives a short history of Kosovo. Seven maps are included. Summing Up: Highly recommended. * CHOICE *
Book Information
ISBN 9780810872318
Author Robert Elsie
Format Hardback
Page Count 452
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 714g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 148mm * 33mm
About the Author
Robert Elsie is the author of over 50 books and numerous articles. He has served as a translator and interpreter of Albanian, most recently before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and he presently works for the Hague Tribunal.
Reviews
Helps to fill a large gap in English-language materials on this region. * American Reference Books Annual *
Highly recommended. * CHOICE *
This is an extremely objective reference work, whose useful information will be lasting. * Central and Eastern European Review *
Updating the 2004 edition, released when Kosovo was still a Serbian province, this indispensable subject guide aims to increase our understanding of Europe's newest country while incorporating developments occurring since its February 2008 declaration of independence. Elsie (Historical Dictionary of Albania) opens with a chronology, dating from 547 C.E. Four hundred alphabetically organized and highly accessible entries follow, each running several paragraphs and offering a summary explanation of the people, places, organizations, events, and customs that have defined the country's turbulent history. Perhaps of greatest value to researchers is the spectacular, thematically divided 89-page bibliography. An essential reference for a previously underrecognized subject. * Library Journal *
This dictionary covers Kosovo's complicated past as a nation of mostly ethnic Albanians who have been under the rule of the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian Empires as well as a part of Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and, most recently, Serbia. The entangled intricacy of this past is exemplified in the introductory material. The chronology that follows "Acronyms and Abbreviations" and "Maps" is more than 25 pages long, with more than half of that covering just 1990 to the present. Events range from Slavic settlement of the area in the year 547 to the 2010 arrest of the head of the Kosovo Central Bank for corruption. In addition to history, the alphabetically arranged and heavily cross-referenced entries in the body of the dictionary cover political, social, and biographical topics. Additional material includes an appendix of major place-names in the different languages of Kosovo, lists of government officials as well as political parties and organizations, and a comprehensive bibliography of nearly 100 pages with its own table of contents. Overall, this would be a good addition for both public and academic libraries. * Booklist *
The first edition of this book (CH, Apr'05, 42-4390) was titled Historical Dictionary of Kosova. Elsie (independent scholar) has renamed this second edition to reflect the official name of the country, which became independent in 2008. Nearly 100 entries have been added, for a total of 475, the majority of which deal with persons, historical and contemporary, who have had some impact on the development of Kosovo; most relate to Albanian Kosovars. Boldface type within articles indicates cross-references. The section on acronyms not only lists the name equivalent but also gives the English translation. The extensive bibliography now includes works in languages other than English. A chronology that begins in 547 becomes much more detailed through the 1980s up to July 2010. The introduction gives a short history of Kosovo. Seven maps are included. Summing Up: Highly recommended. * CHOICE *
Book Information
ISBN 9780810872318
Author Robert Elsie
Format Hardback
Page Count 452
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 714g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 148mm * 33mm
