Crossroads of the continent, Land of Lincoln, hub of commerce - or, as Charles Dickens viewed it, a landscape "oppressive in its barren monotony" - "Illinois" boasts a rich and varied past. In this far-reaching but compact history, Roger Biles provides a much needed, up-to-date account of the state's development, from the earliest native settlements to the present. Focusing on the state's changing population over time, he highlights the key figures who contributed to Illinois's government, economy, and culture. While devoting attention to the touchstones of the state's history, "Illinois"...