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Booklist - American Library Association - Booklist is ALA's official review source for current materials worthy of consideration for purchase by small and medium-sized public and school libraries. The full text of Booklist's review of Great Events from History: The 18th Century is reproduced below.Booklist March 2006 Great Events from History: The 18th Century, 1601-1700 2v. Ed. by Larissa Juliet Taylor. 2006 1,193p. illus. indexes. Salem, $160 (1-58765-279-X). At first glance, this handsome, two-volume set may seem too scholarly for nonacademic library purchase, but it isn't, it's just that comprehensive. The fifth in Salem's ongoing Great Events from History series, edited by Powell (history, Oklahoma Baptist Univ.), the set encompasses the societal, cultural, and geopolitical boundaries of the 18th century. Unlike many other reference works on world history, the content is by no means Americas-heavy, which some readers might find off-putting. But for those who want their country information in relatively even doses - at least with regard to recorded history during the 1700s - the set should nicely supplement existing reference works. Averaging two pages in length, the 343 entries are informative but easy to read, smoothly conveying the before-and-after context in which the event took place - much like reading the written lectures of an effective oral instructor. Each entry begins with location, date, subjects, and key figures and ends with further reading suggestions and cross references within this work or between other works in the series. The entries are arranged chronologically, but there are several aids for locating information: a time line, an unusually helpful glossary, a chronological list of entries, a keyword list of contents, and indexes for people, subject, category, and geographical location. The bibliography is followed by 12 pages of electronic resource annotations. Every feature proves itself useful: for example, students researching historical events in France would find 65 described events in the geographical index; patrons researching political unrest in the 1730s would find 25 described events in the chronological list of entries. The set contains less eye candy than other decade/century summaries but is sprinkled with relevant maps, photographs, artist renditions, and primary-source documents. Bottom Line This impressive, perusable set will strengthen any reference collection and is strongly recommended for academic and public libraries, especially those that can afford other titles in the series. | ||||||
| - Traci Avet Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL |
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