BALTIC FACADES: ESTONIA, LATVIA AND LITHUANIA SINCE 1945 PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Aldis Purs | 224 pages | 01 Sep 2012 | Reaktion Books | 9781861898968 | English | London, United Kingdom Baltic Facades: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Since 1945 PDF Book This kind of tool would be especially helpful due to the fact that this book describes not one history but three intersecting histories, and part of the mission of the book does seem to be to describe what the three countries did and did not share in the 20th century. Paperback, pages. Ashley rated it it was amazing May 20, Economic Developments 5. Callie Maidhof rated it really liked it Jun 27, Historical Background 2. He also examines the anxiety the people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania feel about their own identities and how others see them. Cold War Conversations Podcast marked it as to-read Mar 08, Your Basket. I am confident that Purs, an expert on Latvia, teaches me new things about that country in this section of the book. Want to Read saving…. Other editions. It may sound like a juvenile suggestion, but I think this book would have been improved by added some charts and diagrams to make historical timelines a bit more digestible. Details if other :. February, Politics is difficult and messy, and people are easily influenced by their emotions and the myths that they build up about themselves, each other, and the different countries they belong to. Among other issues, Purs discusses the Holocaust in the Baltic republics and how this topic has been treated in and by the post- Soviet Baltic states. Table of Contents. The progress of pre-Latvia and pre-Estonia are closely linked, while Lithuania's national and political history followed an alternative trajectory until World War I. Not until I travelled to these countries again this year that I really started to dig into their past. Identity 6. Purs is a specialist in Latvian history, therefore Baltic Facades tends to use Latvian examples. About Aldis Purs. Neil rated it liked it Aug 13, Nick Nguyen rated it really liked it Jun 22, Condensing into a readable volume the region's history from the prehistoric era to current events is the greatest achievement of this book. Joshlynn marked it as to-read Mar 27, But Purs's book is more than a critique of internalizing the geopolitical label applied to the three countries. His book will appeal in particular to intellectually curious readers, those who seek an account of the Baltic nations that provides a strong sense of place and reaches beyond the restrictions of traditional political history. The incorporation of the three different countries into one volume is a fine introduction to the contemporary history of the region. There are some misprints on the date of EU accession, and omissions for example, influential Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga is not mentioned , and the academic reader will crave more details and footnotes; however, Purs is successful in drawing attention to necessary debates in Baltic studies. Overall, this is a lucidly written introduction to the region and its peoples. But in reality they are quite distinct countries, each one struggling to find its own place within Europe while preserving a personal identity and local traditions. The most recent solution provided by the European Union and foreign private banks has come with its own downsides and bubbles that burst with dramatic consequences. They were hardly mentioned in my history textbook back in high school, probably only once that they declared independence from the USSR first. Showing The volume is illustrated with three maps: Europe, designating European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, in ; Lithuania in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; and finally the Baltic region between and Potemkin Republics 3. The book consists of an introduction and six chronologically structured thematic chapters. In this book, Aldis Purs dispels the myth of a single, coherent Baltic identity, presenting a radical new view of the region. Average rating 3. The best account I have encountered thus far on the nearest past in the Baltic region. Other Editions 3. Michigan State University Department of History. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Kadri marked it as to-read Jun 10, The book is valuable for drawing the lines of similarity across time and space, and because of its orientation to reproduce the established narratives rather than criticize them. Rating details. Molly G marked it as to-read Mar 01, Baltic Facades: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Since 1945 Writer About Contact News Giving to the Press. Calling the Spirits Lisa Morton. Paperback , pages. There are some misprints on the date of EU accession, and omissions for example, influential Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga is not mentioned , and the academic reader will crave more details and footnotes; however, Purs is successful in drawing attention to necessary debates in Baltic studies. Overall, this is a lucidly written introduction to the region and its peoples. Economic Developments 5. For scholars, Baltic Facades is fertile ground in which to sow questions that challenge common perceptions and mispercep-tions of the region. By dispelling the myth of a single, coherent Baltic identity, Aldis Purs is able to take account of the uniqueness of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, while examining the anxieties that their peoples feel about their own identities and how others see them. The book is for lay readers, and those who will gain most from Baltic Facades are those who have some familiarity with the region and its history. Contemporary Worlds Series. February, Baltic Facades is broken into section based on different historical themes, such as politics and the economy. If unorthodox means proving Baltic unity wrong, this characterization is spot on. Among topics explored in this chapter is the legitimacy of Soviet rule or rather lack thereof. Among other issues, Purs discusses the Holocaust in the Baltic republics and how this topic has been treated in and by the post-Soviet Baltic states. Stephanie Shattuck rated it really liked it Jan 14, Sovietization is another topic where the concept of body politic might have yielded valuable novel insights. This text has the potential to be an excellent source for ethnic Lithuanians, Estonians, and Latvians from emigre families, providing an overarching picture of the Baltic peoples' heritage. Want to Read saving…. Josh rated it liked it Dec 16, It remains to be seen whether the notion of these three countries as a collective unit will be completely replaced by their treatment as individual nations, or expanded to include other countries touching the Sea, but Purs opens up space for the debate - albeit with language a little less inflammatory than Ilves. Outside the USA, see our international sales information. They were hardly mentioned in my history textbook back in high school, probably only once that they declared independence from the USSR first. Heather Garbes rated it really liked it Jun 05, Error rating book. An important aspect to keep in mind in this connection is that the sense of illegitimacy is not static. After common struggles for recognition as independent states in the interwar period, the "shared unhappy experiences" p. Jan 20, Lauren rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction. The author does mention near the beginning of the book that the majority of the work he used for researched is not in English, and that there is a small gap existing for this information in English publishing. We often group these countries together, maybe for the sake of convenience, but ignore their individuality and fundamental differences. Romas added it Oct 07, Aldis Purs is an academic and specialist in Latvian history. By the end of the book, I felt I had a firm if basic grasp of recent Baltic history, but the reading experience would have been improved if I had some sort of visual tool to guide me. Epp Annus. All three were fortunate in exploiting the international crisis to achieve statehood in but failed to preserve it when new conflicts burst out. Politics, economics, culture and identity are all considered and the problems moving foward into the 21st Century are l The best account I have encountered thus far on the nearest past in the Baltic region. Baltic Facades is broken into se I agree with other readers on the fact that Baltic Facades is best read as an introduction to the recent history of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are often grouped together as the Baltic States, but these three Eastern European countries, tied together historically, are quite different. The progress of pre-Latvia and pre-Estonia are closely linked, while Lithuania's national and political history followed an alternative trajectory until World War I. Great starting point if you want to understand what the situation is in this region of the world. This is appropriate, however, given his claim that "the Baltic concept begins in Latvia and ripples outward" with cultural ties to Lithuania and historical ties to Estonia p. It is a story of great changes during the twentieth century and of new challenges after and About Aldis Purs. Potemkin Republics 3. Enlarge Image. The book ends with the prediction that the notion of "Baltic States" will fade away as they leave behind their unhappy shared experiences and integrate into Europe on distinct paths. Readers also enjoyed. Wanderers Kerri Andrews. Kelly Wilkinson marked it as to-read Dec 28, It may sound like a juvenile suggestion, but I think this book would have been improved by added some charts and diagrams to make historical timelines a bit more digestible. Baltic Facades: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Since 1945 Reviews He also examines the anxiety the people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania feel about their own identities and how others see them.