Switzerland Unwrapped

An iconoclastic portrait of a country and its society which has probably basked too long in a placid, cosy, post-war image as a land of cleanliness, godliness and good order. Through the device of oral history, this book investigates Swiss politicians, generals, industrialists and other characters.

Despite its position at the heart of Europe and its quintessentially European nature, Switzerland's history is often overlooked within the English-speaking world. This comprehensive and engaging history of Switzerland traces the historical and cultural development of this fascinating but neglected European country from the end of the Dark Ages up to the present. The authors focus on the initial Confederacy of the Middle Ages; the religious divisions which threatened it after 1500 and its surprising survival amongst Europe's monarchies; the turmoil following the French Revolution and conquest, which continued until the Federal Constitution of 1848; the testing of the Swiss nation through the late nineteenth century and then two World Wars and the Depression of the 1930s; and the unparalleled economic and social growth and political success of the post-war era. The book concludes with a discussion of the contemporary challenges, often shared with neighbours, that shape the country today.

The Politics and Government of Switzerland is one of very few English language studies of contemporary Swiss politics. Drawing on recent research in Switzerland, and the author's own observations, it offers wide coverage of Swiss political forces, processes and policies. Church argues that Switzerland is actually a vibrant and pluralist polity, in which politics are increasingly competitive. However, it still retains some distinctive characteristics like direct democracy, which mean that the Swiss people play a larger role than in other countries.

Gives the inside story on one of Europe's most touristed and least-known countries, debunking the myth that Switzerland in only for the rich and famous. Full coverage of all three linguistic regions (French, German and Italian) and the ski meccas across the country. Unbiased reviews of accommodation, restaurants nightlife for all budgets. Practical information on hiking, touring by car or public transport.

'the most convenient and reliable starting point for information on public affairs' - George J. Mitchell, US Senator. Each copy comes with FREE online access to www.statesmansyearbook.com . Site license upgrades are also available for libraries who wish to network the data. New this year: a chronology of the 'credit crunch.'

Journeying through the Alps in close quarters with her boss is the ultimate temptation in this festive workplace romance by Michelle Smart. The blizzard outside… Is no match for the storm inside! Innocent Meredith Ingles is mortified when she knocks her temporary boss off his feet with a Christmas tree! Giovanni Cannavaro’s trusting her to make his opulent train’s maiden voyage a roaring success. But resisting the man himself is a challenge all its own! Working alongside Merry makes Giovanni feel alive. He knows acting on their combustible chemistry could burn them both. Following the loss of his first love, he swore he wouldn’t risk pain like that again. But could Merry be the gift he didn’t know he needed? From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds. Read all the Christmas with a Billionaire books: Book 1: Unwrapped by Her Italian Boss by Michelle Smart Book 2: The Christmas She Married the Playboy by Louise Fuller

The 2008 edition of The Statesman's Yearbook contains information and analysis on every country in the world, including biographical profiles of current leaders, government histories, economic overviews and maps. Every copy comes with a single-user licence giving access to the full text online, updated regularly and fully searchable.

Employing 286 scholars, this two volume encyclopedia contains entries on post-World War II European political history and groups, significant events and persons, the economy, religion, education, the arts, women's issues, writers, and more.

A groundbreaking second-generation memoir of the Holocaust and its legacy by Otto Frank’s goddaughter—“The extraordinary tale is heroic” (The New York Times). Rita Goldberg recounts the extraordinary story of her mother, Hilde Jacobsthal, a close friend of Anne Frank’s family who was fifteen when the Nazis invaded Holland. After the arrest of her parents in 1943, Hilde fled to Belgium, living out the war years in an extraordinary set of circumstances—first among the Resistance, and then at Bergen-Belsen after its liberation. In the words of The Guardian, the story is “worthy of a film script.” As astonishing as Hilde’s story is, Rita herself emerges as the central character in this utterly unique memoir. Proud of her mother and yet struggling to forge an identity in the shadow of such heroic accomplishments—not to mention her family’s close relationship to the iconic Frank family—Goldberg offers an unflinching look at the struggles faced by children and grandchildren whose own lives are haunted by historic tragedy. Motherland is the culmination of a lifetime of reflection and a decade of research. It is an epic story of survival, adventure, and new life. “A double memoir that braids her parents’ story with her own, and succeeds in articulating a difficult truth.” —The Economist