Head (Univ. of California, Riverside) and Church (Univ. of Kent, UK) present a brisk overview of Swiss history from the 13th century to the present. Focusing primarily on political and economic developments, the central question structuring the narrative is how a distinctive Swiss identity emerged and sustained itself, transforming a loose urban confederation into a modern nation. Switzerland has long lacked the classic foci for national identity, being spread across pre-Alpine and Alpine terrain and divided by both language and religion since the 16th century. Swiss self-consciousness coalesced first around the origin myths of William Tell and later around notions of Switzerland as "Sonderfall," an exceptional combination of democratic politics, neutrality, and economic growth. The last chapter successfully lays out how Swiss national identity absorbed challenges from economic downturn and gradual reentry into the larger European community, giving birth to a populist, often reactionary strain in contemporary politics. The authors' complementary specialties in early modern and contemporary European history make the book unusually well balanced between the remote and recent past for an overview of this kind. A clear, engaging synthesis appropriate for a wide variety of readers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels and libraries. J. W. McCormack University of Notre Dame