Place Names of the World, Europe: Historical Context, Meanings and Changes

Everett-Heath identifies the original of selected place names in 45 of the largest countries of Europe. The entries include English names, native names, previous names, and a short paragraph tracing any and all to historical, geographical, or other features. To augment the lists, he includes 17 maps of the continent and countries at various historical periods from the Roman Empire in 350 to the remains of Yugoslavia in 1999, and, curiously, a fold-out chart of the descendants of Queen Victoria. He became interested in place names during a long career as a British pilot, diplomat, and worldwide traveler. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)