An Atlas of Countries That Don't Exist: A Compendium of Fifty Unrecognized and Largely Unnoticed States

by Nick Middleton

Overview

A “fascinating” journey to little-known and contested lands around the globe, from Tibet to the Isle of Man to Elgaland-Vargaland (Geographical Magazine).

What is a country? Acclaimed travel writer and Oxford geography don Nick Middleton brings to life the origins and histories of fifty states that, lacking international recognition and United Nations membership, exist on the margins of legitimacy in the global order. From long-contested lands like Crimea and Tibet to lesser-known territories such as Africa’s last colony and a European republic that enjoyed independence for a single day, Middleton presents fascinating stories of shifting borders, visionary leaders, and “forgotten” peoples.

“Engrossing . . . You’ll not find Middle-earth, Atlantis or Lilliput inside, but you will find something just as intriguing . . . sure to prompt discussions about what makes a country a ‘real country.’” —Seattle Times

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452158839
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	558,854
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Nick Middleton is a geographer, author, and television documentary writer and presenter. A fellow of St Anne's College, he lives and teaches in Oxford, England.

Editorial Reviews

"A fascinating catalogue of stories and a reminder of how varied the world can be when the established geopolitical order starts fraying at the edges."
—Geographical Magazine

“Middleton, a geographer at the University of Oxford, has now charted these hidden lands. . . . it feels like you have entered a parallel world with a vibrant, forgotten history and a rich culture.”
—BBC

"...an engaging browse for YA and adult amateur geography enthusiasts."
-Library Journal

"Don’t be fooled by the title of this engrossing, delightfully presented book. You’ll not find Middle-earth, Atlantis or Lilliput inside, but you will find something just as intriguing - real places that are quite noteworthy in the minds and hearts of their nonfictional inhabitants, but are “unrecognized and largely unnoticed states whose claims to legitimacy are made invisible” by their clearly defined, “official” neighbors...Along with the attractive format and the short but informative entries, the jacketless textured gray cover with a dramatic cutout makes “Atlas” a handsome addition to a shelf of geography or political histories. Anyone who keeps such shelves would do well to give this atlas a go, and it’s sure to prompt discussions about what makes a country a 'real country.'"
-Seattle Times

“From the Isle of Man to Elgaland-Vargaland (this is one you’ll have to read about to believe), we take an armchair voyage to 50 different countries that we may or may not already be familiar with. . . . I learned so much about obscure bits of the world’s history, geography, and political history that I kept quoting tidbits to my family until they were sick of me.”
-Geek Dad

From the Publisher

03/01/2017
The introduction to Middleton's attractive work describes the difficulty of deciding what is and is not a country. The geography professor (St. Anne's Coll., Oxford Univ.) and documentary producer recognizes that the entities presented here are among a larger group with ambitions to nationhood, but these are the 50 that meet his rule of not securing a seat at the UN General Assembly while having "outward trappings of national consciousness" such as a government and a flag. The main body of this trade-size atlas chronicles places by continent, offering fast facts such as the entity's date of declaration, capital, and population. The entries also provide alternate names for the place, if any, and describe its situation--Transnistria, for example, is a "separatist region of Moldova, often portrayed in the West as a hotbed of crime and Stalinism." There are several three-color maps for each entry, illustrating the place in question, major features, and regional position. A spread of narrative that follows describes history and political geography. VERDICT This is an engaging browse for YA and adult amateur geography enthusiasts; the lack of an index and detail in the maps, however, makes it unsuitable for academic use.--Henrietta Verma, National Information Standards Organization, Baltimore

Library Journal