Historical Dictionary of Sweden (2nd ed.)

This title was first published in 1995 as number seven of the series which, however admirable in its scope and intentions, stretches the definition of “Europe” by including countries such as Turkey, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. It is not uncommon for a foreword, whether supplied by the author or, as here, by the editor of the series, to reveal unexpected flaws in perception. Jon Woronoff tells us that the changes to Sweden's society and its role in the world have taken a long time to work their way through, only being appreciated correctly if readers observe the longer trends. While...