A scholarly history of Latvia beginning in medieval times, which concentrates on the growth of Latvian nationalism in the 19th and 20th centuries. Heavy-going for the casual visitor, it's an in-depth analysis of the country and its role in the world. The book includes a discussion of Latvia's "national awakening" in the early 1800s, loss of independence to the Soviet Union during World War II, and concludes with a discussion of modern Latvia and its position as an independent European nation.  (BLT08, $24.95)