Overview

An intimate portrait of Estonia and all things Estonian from the UK's ambassador, as entertaining as it is informative. Near the top of most international league tables comes a surprising name: Estonia. This small country has many brilliant achievements to its name which can and should inspire the rest of the world: top globally in both environmental performance and human rights; the second-biggest per capita donor to Ukraine, after Denmark; second globally in digital government; home to more tech unicorns per capita than any other state; and boasting the best exam results in Europe. Estonia has the best tax system (seven years in a row!) and the world's most performed living classical composer. All underpinned by a deep commitment to freedom. Ross Allen, UK Ambassador in Tallinn and a fluent Estonian-speaker, explores how this country has come to excel in so many fields, and what the rest of the world could learn from it. He offers insights from his diplomatic work, but also shares his embrace of local culture, from song festivals to smoke saunas. Having travelled across Estonia's towns, villages, islands and bogs, his understanding of and enthusiasm for this relatively obscure country shine through. With elements of travel, history, geography and international politics, this highly enjoyable book will make you see Estonia and the Baltics in a new light.

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9781805265757

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Reviews

‘A must-read for anyone interested in how a small country menaced by larger neighbours through the ages has emerged as a model of modernity, efficiency and social progress. It is a miracle of modern nation-building described with infectious enthusiasm, insight and humour. Allen himself is also a model of the modern diplomat: unstuffy, keen to learn everything about a country he grew to love, and keener still to encourage others to learn too. A delightful and uplifting book.’ -- <b>Nick Clegg, former leader of the Liberal Democrats and former deputy prime minister (2010–15)</b> ‘Ross Allen is one of Britain’s brightest young diplomats. He illuminates what makes Estonia tick: a country on the cutting edge of technological innovation and on the frontline of the new cold war with Russia. Though small, Estonia has an outsize international footprint, and Allen takes us behind the scenes on how it got here—and what lies ahead.’ -- <b>George Parker, Political Editor, <i>Financial Times</i></b>

Author Information

Ross Allen is a career diplomat who has been UK Ambassador to Estonia since June 2021. He formerly held posts in New York, Washington DC and Jerusalem; in the UK Cabinet Office and Foreign Office; and in the banking sector. He holds a Theology degree from the University of Cambridge.

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