-This book was clearly a labor of love for accomplished German historian Dieter Buse. Academically active for the last forty years, the author has produced a basic reference work covering the Federal Republic's current Lander that seeks to show the reader how a focus on regions enables us to understand the reconstruction of German identity after WWII. Buse argues that after the catastrophe of the Second World War, most Germans rehabilitated themselves from the local level outward. While the focus on Heimat is not new, the book is well organized, factually accurate, and easily accessible to a variety of audiences, from academics to those planning a trip to central Europe. —H-German

-Dieter K. Buse....has combined his extensive historical knowledge and wide-ranging travel experience in Germany to construct a work that is easy to use, interesting to read, and useful to anyone seeking a brief introduction to the history and culture of Germany's various regions....Buse recognizes that the history and character of Germany's regions do not fit neatly within the country's current political map. By making this clear in his regional histories....he is able to use Germany's current configuration of states to construct chapters that stand on their own....The potential traveller interested in the region's landscape and cultural life would gain much from the succinct, but thorough, guide to main attractions....[a] very useful resource on the regions of Germany. It can be used as the starting point for those interested in the history of the country's various states as well as a guide for those interested in visiting the country. —Canadian Journal of History