Christopher Deliso

The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations is a series of books providing up-to-date histories of numerous nations around the world including many that have had too few history books released in English. This history of Croatia and Slovenia provided a comprehensive history beginning from prehistory up until 2020. Although I have mixed feelings about the book, it definitely provided a good historical overview of the two countries.

The book begins with an encyclopedia-style overview of both countries with current facts and figures which is useful to readers who are less familiar with the two countries. It then continues with chapters on prehistory and the history of the middle ages followed by chapters up to the modern era. Several of these chapters were a challenge to get through without detailed knowledge of the local geography and some high-level knowledge of people and events. The book would have been helped by the addition of more maps and diagrams explaining what was happening where.

The chapters on Tito were most interesting and easiest to read. The chapters on the middle ages often looked like obscure names splattered across the pages. The modern chapters mention the war atrocities only superficially.. Finally, the price of the book is much too high in my opinion.… (mehr)

Once upon a time - not all that long ago - travel writers tended to write about places. I'm sure this writer's young son is quite delightful but there are times when you feel you know more about him than about Macedonia.
I am inclined to agree with redrelic17 about the way Albania has been dealt with. I'm not sure why the writer bothered with it at all since it seems to have been somewhere to get out of rather than providing a rare opportunity for exploration. (This is unfortunate since he describes the village of Lin, for instance, rather well.)
Neither is it clear why this book is about 'hidden' Macedonia. Admittedly the country is not well known but Ohrid is probably the best known part of it, (although Prespa is less so). But the 'hidden' parts do not easily lend themselves to a journey by public transport. We are told that Edward Lear found the Prespa - Ohrid road had the most beautiful view he had ever seen. Deliso didn't actually go and see this for himself. He should have - but you don't find many buses on that route. Kurbinovo, very close to Lake Prespa, does have exceptionally fine frescoes, as is mentioned. But there was no time - or was that no buses?
Macedonia deserves to be far better known and exploration - of the Ohrid / Prespa region in particular - is hugely rewarding. This book does have sections where you can feel what Macedonia and its people are about. But, sadly, the main impression is of a wasted opportunity.… (mehr)