Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania experienced a sequence of foreign regimes, including Nazism and communism, before recovering their independence and joining the European Union. Clearly and accessibly written, this book is one of the first to provide a general overview of their histories from the stone age to the present using a comparative approach.

Table of Contents

List of Maps Preface Europe's Last Pagans Lithuania's Expansion and Medieval Livonia (1290-1560) The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Rise of Sweden and Russia (1560-1795) The Long Nineteenth Century Under Tsarist Rule (1795-1917) The Short Era of Independence (1917-1939) Between Anvil and Hammer (1939-1953) Soviet Rule (1953-1991) Return to the West (1991-2008) Further Reading Chronology Index

About the Author

ANDRES KASEKAMP is Professor of Baltic Politics at the University of Tartu, Estonia. He has served as the editor of Journal of Baltic Studies. His previous publications include The Radical Right in Interwar Estonia (Palgrave Macmillan, 2000).

Reviews

Winner of the Baltic Assembly Prize in Literature, 2011: http://www.baltasam.org/?DocID=928 'Kasekamp's book is an innovative, comprehensive and balanced treatment of the history of all three Baltic States. Starting from the earliest times and taking the narrative up to the present day, it shows how developments in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia both diverge and intertwine. There is no better book to introduce the student to the fascinating story of the Baltic region.' -- Professor James White, University of Glasgow, UK 'Required reading for all persons interested in Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian history. Kasekamp's command of the scholarly literature is unsurpassed.' -- Guntis Smidchens, Assistant Professor of Baltic Studies, University of Washington, USA 'A History of the Baltic States is an excellent publication opening the history of the eastern Baltics to the English-speaking audience. It is concise, well-written, and made with professionalism and competence.' - ERR News 'Andres Kasekamp's graceful history of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is an excellent guide to the history of the three Baltic States.' - Russiaprofile.org Read an interview with the author here