This book is packed with easy "how to" research instructions for genealogy beginners for 14 areas in Europe. The book is concisely written; nearly every sentence contains at least one research clue to locating vital information about a European ancestor. Even the forward contains research tips such as "...civil registration records, particularly in Italy, the Benelux region, and Scandinavia offer so much to truly help your research that once you begin it's hard to imagine why you were ever afraid" (10).

Here's a brief look at the first two chapters of the book and then a one line tip from each of the other 12 chapters.

Chapter One: Ireland a Regional Guide - by Dwight A. Radford and Kyle J. Betit
If you are researching Irish ancestry, this chapter alone would be worth the $16 price tag of the book. It's easy to read and follow and in my opinion is the most user friendly guide to Irish research I've come across, and I've looked at quite a few. The very first point that is made in this chapter is to point the researcher to the Family History collection of Irish records on microfilm from the LDS church. Much of your research can be done from one of the local LDS church's Family History centers near you. But the authors don't just tell you about the records available, they give you simple step by step directions for searching Irish records with tips to prevent you from wasting your time on unproductive searches. They point out that the key to your success is "The Two W's": Who and Where. In a little over 2 pages the authors are able to give you the essence of Irish research: what to do and what not to do. Then they follow with descriptions of each type of record with its value to you and where you can get access to the record. For instance, a tip from the "Land Records" section says, "Don't assume that just because your ancestor wasn't rich or prominent, you won't find information about him or her in the registry of Deeds. One of the most valuable finds is a deed with a list of tenants" (23).

At the end of every chapter, including this one, is a detailed Resources section which lists journals, books, CD-ROMs, Websites, Organizations, and Archives. Also each chapter has a historical timeline that runs along the bottom of the page. This is a great help for placing ancestors in the proper perspective with regard to national events and available records.

Chapter Two: England and Wales a Regional Guide - by Paul Milner and Linda Jonas
This Chapter helped me to finally understand the difference between the terms Great Britain and United Kingdom. As with the other chapters in this book this chapter begins with a map of the Region being examined -- and I do love these maps! Once again they are a great example of clear and concise presentation. This chapter emphasized how important it is "to try to examine the original records ... rather than merely relying on transcripts or online databases" (34). An interesting example is given, demonstrating how seeing the additional data from the original record changed the whole interpretation of the records under consideration. The authors go on to say that the LDS church has microfilmed almost all of the original records you need to begin your research (33-34).

There were tons of tips in this section. One that really stood out for me was that in English research you need to know your ancestor's Church of England parish even if they were Catholics (36). The reason given for needing the parish information is that the recording of an individual's baptism, marriage, and burial in the Church of England was necessary for inheritance and many other purposes. There were many important tips about the Census records. These tips can help you interpret the Census records better. The last part of this chapter is devoted to finding Welsh records. A carefully crafted, step-by-step, one page guide is given for researching Welsh records followed by tips to finding the right record.

The remainder of the chapters are just as clear and concise; each page is packed with useful tips, guidelines, and resources for effective family history research in Europe.

Chapter Three: Scotland - Scottish descendants have easy access to more resources and records than ever before. Find out what and where they are.
Chapter Four: Scandinavia - "The conscientious Scandinavians have kept excellent records which have been mostly spared the ravages of Europe's wars" (81). Let this chapter point you to them.
Chapter Five: France - If you have ancestors who came from France, the editors have outlined six steps to get started tracing them (105).
Chapter Six: Benelux - "Of the countries that make up the Benelux regions the Netherlands has the highest number of emigrants, particularly to the United States" (118).
Chapter Seven: Germanic Region - "Censuses were not taken nationally in Germany... Researchers will have better luck with church and civil records" (144). This chapter can point you to such records.
Chapter Eight: Poland - Buffeted by history, Poland can be a challenging place to trace your ancestors, but sifting through the country's records doesn't have to be a battle. Use this chapter to help you learn how to sift.
Chapter Nine: Eastern Europe - "A big mistake Eastern European genealogists make is assuming the records no longer exist. In my experience, very few have been destroyed ... Always have finding records as a goal" (Gardiner qtd 163).
Chapter Ten: Russia and Baltic Region - "To uncover your family's history back in the former USSR, you'll need luck, expert help, and an understanding of the region's past" (184). You'll find help for all of these criteria in this chapter.
Chapter Eleven: Italy - "One of the common mistakes researchers make when tracking their Italian origins is anxiously jumping the ocean too soon. ... Follow these ten steps to keep from 'drowning' in the ocean and to make your Italian research more successful" (202-3).
Chapter Twelve: Greece and the Mediterranean - "An American middle name is often the equivalent of a Greek middle initial, which stands for the father's first name" (226-7). You'll find many more clues like this in this Chapter.
Chapter Thirteen: Spain and Portugal - "Surnames can be tricky, but they can also give you important clues" (240). Find out in this chapter what genealogy clues Spanish and Portuguese surnames can give you.
Chapter Fourteen: Your European Jewish Ancestors - "Present-day Jews generally have origins in one of three groups....Since your ancestors most likely migrated with the most recent Ashkenazic group, collecting family stories and interviews may involve dealing with a very manageable one hundred years" (253).

This carefully crafted book provides an invaluable collection of genealogy research guidelines in a single source. The authors have extensively researched each of 14 regions of Europe to bring to you the essential records and resources for tracing your family tree. This book The Family Tree Guide to Europe, available for $16.09, provides beginner-friendly, how-to instructions on finding your European ancestors. I predict it will become one of the most valuable books on your genealogy bookshelf.

Review written by Cindy Carman