Background&Context/Country Information

Germanic Languages and Literatures (Research Guide)

Slavic, East European & Eurasian Studies: Research Resources by Area (U Illinois)

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks offer short articles on a topic, often with references.

  • Use HOLLIS Everything Advanced Search to find individual encyclopedia articles. 
    • Do a Title keyword search on your topic
    • On the results page look for Resource Type under Refine Your Results in the right-hand column.
    • Choose Reference entries.
    • For example, Talleyrand

The Wiley-Blackwell dictionary of modern European history since 1789

Modern Germany: an encyclopedia of history, people, and culture, 1871-1990, ed. by Dieter K. Buse, Juergen C. Doerr. NY: Garland Pub., 1998. 2 v.
Widener | RR 3829.5

Cambridge companion to modern German culture, ed. by Eva Kolinsky and Wilfried van der Will. Cambridge; NY: Cambridge University Press, 1998, 365 p.
Lamont | DD204 .C36 1998
Widener | WID-LC | DD204 .C36 1998

Historical dictionary of Germany, by Wayne C. Thompson, Susan L. Thompson, Juliet S. Thompson. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1994, 637 p.
Widener | WID-LC | DD84 .T48 1994

The Cambridge companion to modern French culture, ed. by Nicholas Hewitt. Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2003, 353 p.
HOLLIS Record with Online Version

Encyclopedia of modern French thought, ed. by Christopher John Murray. New York : Fitzroy Dearborn, 2004, 713 p.
HOLLIS Record

The Columbia history of twentieth-century French thought, ed. by Lawrence D. Kritzman. New York : Columbia University Press, 2006, 787 p.
HOLLIS Record

Historical dictionary of France, by Gino Raymond. 2nd ed. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2008, 471 p.
HOLLIS Record

Several serial publications offer overviews of political and social conditions (politics, economics, organizations, press, etc.) and current events for countries worldwide. Some are reference works, others are monthly or annual news summaries.  A few of the major examples are listed below. 

Annuaire historique universel, 1819-1839. Paris: Fantin,
HOLLIS Record 1758-1837
HathiTrust Version 1818-1839

Annual register.  [title varies], 1758- . London
HOLLIS Record 1758-1837
HOLLIS Record  1838-1862
HOLLIS Record  1863-1953
HathiTrust (-1922 only)
HathiTrust (-1922 only)

The International year book, 1898-1902.
HathiTrust version
Google Books version
HOLLIS Record

Continued by:
New international yearbook; a compendium of the world's progress. 1904-1965
Google Books version
HOLLIS Record

Alphabetical articles on countries, US states, and topics (e.g., Iron and Steel).

Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) offers Country Reports and Country Profiles with online political and economic information going back to around 1996.

Issues for 1986-1995 in paper: Search in HOLLIS: "country report" and name of country

Europa world year book [before 1989 titled Europa year book], 1959- . London: Europa Publications
Current Online Version
HOLLIS Record 1989-
HOLLIS Record 1959-1988
--Includes list of major newspapers.
--Since 1963 has a Recent History section for each country summarizing events for the last few years.

Statesman’s year-book, 1864- . London: Palgrave.
Online Version (1864- ):  Open Archive in orange bar at top
Google Books
HOLLIS Record
--Guide to world politics, economics and international relations. provides details regarding population, officials, exports, constitutions, governments, diplomatic representatives, religion, finance, and basic histories of nations and states, as well as international and non-governmental organizations and think tanks.

Whitaker's almanack. [before 1992 titled Almanack for the year of our Lord…) London: J. Whitaker, 1869- .
Widener | Harvard Depository | Br 3700.101 (2002-2011)
Widener Br 3700.101 (1869-1992)
Widener | RR 4262.2 Latest
Google Books