Dominated and exploited by Portugal for almost five centuries, Angola achieved independence in 1975 after a bitter struggle to eject the Portuguese. But that was not the end of it. This was followed by an even nastier civil war, which lasted for 27 years. It was further complicated by the Cold War, and continued even after that was over, only ending in 2002. Since then the country and its leadership has finally been able to focus on the problems of nation-building. Still by 2010, peace appears to be firmly rooted in Angola though much social and economic rehabilitation needs to be completed. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Angola is a thorough examination of Angola. It includes a chronology, bibliography, maps, appendixes, and over 600 cross referenced dictionary entries. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Angola.