From Library Journal
This dictionary presents those men and women who possessed both the vision to establish independent nations of united people and the will to use whatever means, whether peaceful or violent, to obtain that goal. The 322 entries cover the rulers, revolutionaries, politicians, and military leaders responsible for the formation of existing nations since 1300. Hamilton's accurate, well-written entries cover such people as Washington, Castro, Mao, and Gandhi as well as lesser-known people responsible for founding independent nations in Africa, Asia, and now Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. No glowing pictures appear here: Hamilton's biographies cover both the positive and negative aspects of his subjects. Also included are 86 country profiles and a chronology of the founding of nations and revolutions. This excellent book complements familiar titles like the Chambers Dictionary of Political Biography (1991), Frank Thackery's Statesmen Who Changed the World (Greenwood, 1993), Harris M. Lentz III's Heads of States and Governments (McFarland, 1994), and Historic World Leaders (LJ 5/1/94), offering greater detail in the select area on which it focuses. Its approach, presentation, and coverage of the many changes that have occurred since the fall of both the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union recommend it for all school, public, and academic libraries.?Stephen L. Hupp, Univ. of Pittsburgh Lib., Johnston, Pa.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
This source provides biographical information for more than 300 men and women identified as "founding parents" of existing countries. Hamilton defines a modern nation as "a political entity that exists today and that conforms to the characteristics of nation-states emergent in Europe as the Middle Ages came to an end." This definition excludes the prime movers in the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. The criteria for inclusion are figures who "created the nation with the territorial boundaries as they still exist . . . [and] who changed their governments in revolutionary ways, provided such changes, even after some alteration, continue as a prominent feature." Thus, Cuba is represented by JoseMartiand Fidel Castro.
The dictionary is divided in two parts. The biographical section, arranged alphabetically, consists of a one-or two-page sketch of the person, describing his or her contributions as a national founder. Cross-references in small caps direct the reader to others from that country. A brief bibliography concludes each article. The second section of brief country profiles outlines the history leading to the development of each nation. Other useful features are an index listing the founders by country (and giving the names as entered in the dictionary--a useful feature for Arab and Asian names where the surname may not be evident), a brief chronology, clear outline maps of the continents showing the countries whose leaders are included in the work, and a bibliography. Unfortunately, both the bibliographies at the ends of biographies and the one at the end of the book do not note publishers. Some biographical sketches are illustrated with black-and white portraits. The index includes more than personal and country names; other subjects are also indexed.
Founders of Modern Nations provides an excellent starting point for students doing research. While some of the people can be found in any encyclopedia (e.g., Kenyatta, Chiang Kai-shek, Nasser), many of them, especially those from small countries, will be difficult to find in standard reference books. This is an outstanding source for public, academic, and high-school libraries.
