About this item
Highlights
- The remarkable (and occasionally ridiculous) stories of 48 nations that fell off the map.
- Author(s): Gideon Defoe
- 304 Pages
- History, Historical Geography
Description
About the Book
"Originally published in the English language by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd."--Title page verso.Book Synopsis
The remarkable (and occasionally ridiculous) stories of 48 nations that fell off the map.
"Countries are just daft stories we tell each other. They're all equally implausible once you get up close."
Countries die. Sometimes it's murder, sometimes it's by accident, and sometimes it's because they were so ludicrous they didn't deserve to exist in the first place. This is an atlas of 48 nations that fell off the map. Their causes of death range from the implausible (jerky prices) to the unfortunate (too evil) to the downright bizarre (the flip of a coin). The polite way of writing an obituary is: dwell on the good bits, gloss over the embarrassing stuff. This book refuses to do so, because these dead nations are so ridiculous that it's impossible to skip the embarrassing stuff.
★ "This book is a sparkling gem."--Booklist (Starred Review)
"Perfect for fans of Atlas Obscura."--Publishers Weekly
Review Quotes
For An Atlas of Extinct Countries
★ "Defoe's irreverent wit makes his subjects come alive [...] This book is a sparkling gem."--Booklist (Starred Review)
★ "Both educational and entertaining, An Atlas of Extinct Countries is an irreverent look at the history of defunct nations and the larger-than-life personalities behind them."--Foreword Reviews (Starred Review)
"Defoe writes [of these] evanescent would-be Utopias, independent communes and mayfly principalities in revved-up prose a bit like Hunter S. Thompson's, but more jokey and with an English accent [...] I came to enjoy it immensely."--Michael Dirda, The Washington Post
"Meticulously researched but written for genuine laughs."--CNN Travel
"Defoe brings a light touch to this unique collection... The author's superior talent for vivid similes and punchy writing do justice to the tales of megalomaniacs and fools. This is perfect for fans of Atlas Obscura."--Publishers Weekly
"An Atlas of Extinct Countries is a droll, tongue-in-cheek view of history."--Kirkus Reviews
"An Atlas of Extinct Countries is one of the most intriguing new travel books... Defoe has a remarkable ability to bring these idealists, crackpots, and poets to life."--Frommer's Travel Guide
"Not just a recitation of nations that no longer exist, An Atlas of Extinct Countries is a very pointed and very funny critique of nation-states, borders, and the flawed men who make them....a timely cautionary history."--Lesley Rains, City of Asylum Bookstore (Pittsburgh, PA)
"Better than the Darwin Awards and thrice as amusing, each country gets a summary, a map, and a couple pages to describe its downfall. The snarky wit matches the ostentatious history perfectly and you will laugh out loud. It's the kind of thing you keep reading snippets of to your companion, who either enjoys them as heartily as you do, or leaves for quieter reading country of their own. So much the better; all that real estate to yourself."--Charity McMaster, Schuler Books (Grand Rapids, MI)
"A hilarious history of short-lived countries and the often eccentric people who founded them. Defoe's skewering of the human ego and the misguided notions behind these unique and often squirrelly nations is enlightening and great entertainment."--Don Luckham, Toadstool Books (Keene, NH)
For The Pirates! series
"As fun and light-hearted as Defoe's writing seems on the surface, there's always a comment being made. Great fun."--The Independent
"Very funny, very silly and highly original."--Esquire
"Throughout the book, Defoe manages to mix nonsensical jokes with subtle social commentary... Equal parts witty and absurd, it will put a smile on the face of even the stiffest reader."--Memphis Flyer
"Defoe keeps things moving along and has a winning proclivity toward footnotes--where he does some of his best writing--and nonsensical asides."--Kirkus Reviews
"Equal parts satire and farce as if written by Monty Python, Defoe skewers everyone and everything in a laugh-out-loud performance."--Publisher's Weekly
"One of the biggest joys in my life this year, stuffed with witty one-liners and good-humored observations on the human condition."--Sacramento News & Review