This is a book with a mission, namely to remind everybody that history is not simply an account of events in the existence of contemporary states. It's also a record of countries that ceased to exist, often by accidents that, in hindsight, weren't necessarily inevitable. It's a strong reminder of the fragility of all political systems, especially those taken for granted.

Unfortunately, the author covers this important message with far too many historical details, which, although valuable from a general point of view, serve only to distract the reader from the context that they are originally supposed to support. A little more focus and editorial pruning would have made this book even better. For example, the last chapter claims to be about the USSR but is de facto a detailed history of Estonia, with events regarding the Soviet state unfolding in the background. The awkward shift is a missed opportunity, after all the Soviet Union is among the few relatively familiar, yet profoundly misunderstood "vanished kingdoms" and tiny Estonia doesn't have the potential to fit in its shoes. The book is far more successful in its short chapters, like those about Montenegro and Ruritania, where (probably) the lack of abundant sources or the short timespan prevented the author from indulging in pedantic descriptions of events, rulers, and dynasties or in supplying quotes from letters, poems, and news articles.

However, despite its imperfections, this book is worth the patience of anyone seriously interested in European history. The message, diluted as it is, is still incredibly important.