Steven Otfinoski. The Baltic Republics, (Nations in Transition series). Facts on File, New York, 2004.This slender volume was a chance discovery on the shelves of the local public library. Initial impressions were positive - the 2004 book, aimed at young adults, seems to fill a void in English language publications. Thus it was checked out to be read at leisure, and the following lines are the result, to help others looking for materials on the homeland for younger readers in their families, whose Baltic language skills discourage reading the better texts available from back home.
The category of "juvenile reference" can be a misnomer. Such books can also serve as an appetizer for adults, as an introduction for further reading. The Nations in Transitions series is designed precisely as that - to give readers and researchers, granted that last at high-school level, clear and thought-provoking portraits of nations that have re-emerged after the fall of communism.
It is surely a laudable goal. Author Steven Otfinoski turned to the Baltics after writing about Afghanistan, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Poland for this series, and has evidently developed a winning formula. The goal as stated on the back cover is to tell the success story of the Baltics in their transition from communism to democracy. Baltic-Americans should welcome this book inasmuch it works as introduction to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, especially seeing as most similar works are outdated and not written with the inquisitive yet easily bored young reader in mind.
One would expect such a book to be carefully researched, avoiding oversights. Seeing as it is a general and hence limited introduction an informed reader would be charitable in forgiving omissions - to be anticipated in a book of a mere 182 pages. Yet, alas and alack, easily avoidable errors abound.
Good grasp of subjectHowever, let's first give credit where credit is due. The success story of the Baltics is told in terms of the region's history, economy and geography. Some repetition exists, understandably, for there is plenty in common with view to geography and history. Each section (per republic) sees a breakdown into seven points of focus. Beginning with land and people, then history, politics and government, the economy, religion and culture, daily life, and finally, the cities. After all three countries are thus introduced and discussed Otfinoski addresses common problems and solutions.
The author is to be commended for his understanding of environmental concerns in the region, health and safety issues, worries about fuel and energy, and organized crime. Demographic problems are also brought to the fore, as are societal ones such as women's rights as well as those of the elderly. The nine paragraphs dedicated to the Russian minorities "problem" are as fair as can be, pointing out how Soviet policy of russification made Estonians and Latvians fear "ethnic extinction". Still, Otfinoski carefully dances around the issue of "institutionalized discrimination against Russian-speaking minorities as the major human rights issue in the Baltics today."
The book works rather well on that general and introductory level. The author takes great pains to note that as he was researching his book, time and time again he noticed how ignorance about the Baltics persists even today. He is also fair in acknowledging that the Baltics may take offense at being included in this series about "nations in transitions", agreeing that some see the Soviet annexation and occupation as an aberration on then path to nationhood. And to his credit, he provides a fair overview of how life was like under the Soviets, and gives a rather accurate description of the air of promise being breathed in since independence was regained. Considering as well that this book is quite current - the impeachment of Lithuania's president Rolandas Paksas on April 6, 2004 is included - that latter is almost to be expected.
Startling number of errors Not being at home with the specifics of Latvian and Lithuanian history and orthographies, the reviewer is not qualified to comment on any errors of omission or otherwise in the sections on those two countries. With regard to Estonia, however, there are a startling number of errors/typos. Many of them could have been easily rectified with the use of an Estonian proofreader - or even an observant one. In the latter category one paragraph places the year of the "balti kett", or human chain, the linking of hands across the three Baltic nations properly as August 23rd, but in 1988. Another entry has it properly as 1989. Then there are other numerical errors - did you know that Narva has 579,500 inhabitants?
Place names also suffer. It should be Lake Peipsi, not Peipus, Võrtsjärv is found in two variations, Lake Võrts and Võrts-Järv. The Narva river becomes russified (?) as Narova. Orthographics are "spotty" - Lasnamae lacks the umlaut; this given as just one case where the "spotted vowels" are missed.
But the most agonizing reading comes in the culture section. Our composers Vello (rather than Veljo) Tormis and Alo Marttiisen (Mattiisen) are praised. So are our authors Jaan Kros (Kross) and Eduard Velde (Vilde). The title of A.H. Tammsaare's classic is given without the tildes - "Tode ja oigus". And then there is the influential newspaper "Postimus" - published "since 1855" in Tartu, when 1886 is the correct date for the founding of "Postimees". Our national dish, according to the author, turns out to be "rosolji", and a dark bread called "lieb" is served with most meals. These are but a selection of errors. There are, sadly, more.
However, Otfinoski deals with current issues quite well and head-on, in historical context. A few examples. Konstantin Päts receives special attention; Martti Turtola's recent book labelling Päts as a traitor is addressed and dealt with fairly. The Estonian Museum of Occupations is presented as the Estonian effort to retell persecution under both Nazis and Soviets. The history of the Soviet era of terror, deportations and fleeing to the west pulls no punches.
Finally, for the high-schooler, a useful chronology is appended. The suggested further reading section is a disappointment in its superficial brevity. Then again, perhaps expectations from a chance find were unduly high - for a general reader, unaware of Baltic specifics, there are far more good points than slips. Thus a cautious Estonian recommendation - perhaps the chapters on Latvia and Lithuania are better represented, more polished.
The Publisher is on the World Wide Web, if your public lending library does not have this book. They are at
http://www.factsonfile.com 