Historical dictionary of Switzerland / Leo Schelbert.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Switzerland's exceptional scenic beauty of valleys, lakes, and mountains, its central location on international trade routes, and its world famous banking system are just a few elements that have contributed to its rise in the global market. It consists of twenty-six member states, called cantons and it's actively engaged in the maintenance of peace among nations. The history of the Swiss Confederation is as rich and varied as its culture and people.



This updated second edition of Historical Dictionary of Switzerland features the nation's multicultural and democratic traditions and institutions, its complex history, and its people's involvement in past and present world affairs. This is done through a list of abbreviations and acronyms, a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, maps, a bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important persons, places, events, and institutions, as well as significant political, economic, social, and cultural aspects. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone who wants to know more about Switzerland.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Part of the "Historical Dictionaries of Europe" series, the second edition of this work updates an excellent 2007 first edition. To cover Switzerland's complex and interesting history, Schelbert (emer., Univ. of Illinois at Chicago) created or edited more than 500 entries. In addition to history, the dictionary addresses the country's culture, economy, and complex government. Readers will appreciate the chronology, which gives an overview of Swiss history from the first traces of human presence through the early 21st century, with final entries covering topics such as national voter initiatives in late 2003 and civil marriage rights in 2005. A few topics have only limited coverage, e.g., the role of Switzerland and its banks during the Great Depression, World War II, and the recent great recession. Overall, however, Schelbert offers a very strong overview of Swiss history, culture, and society, accompanied by a fine bibliography of sources useful for further study. An index would have made the book easier to bounce around in, but even without it, this is an excellent work for anyone interested in Switzerland. --Gregory Johnson, Governors State University