Pears Cyclopaedia 2001-2002 - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0140297499 ISBN 13: 9780140297492

Publisher: Penguin, 2001

Synopsis

Pears Cyclopedia was a perennial bestseller. This edition has a wealth of material including Russia under Putin, cult films, diabetes, youth cultures and myths of Northern Europe. "It remains THE reliable, portable, affordable and authoritative single-volume reference work. 'A bestseller for the home bookshelf ... its coverage is impressive". - The Times

About this title

Review:

For anyone who feels daunted by the unfathomable size and relentless growth of the Information Revolution--millions of Internet sites and thousands of large-format increasingly specialist reference books--Pears Cyclopaedia, pocket sized and as comprehensive as ever in its 110th edition, might be the answer.

It's hard to think of any other book which comes anywhere near managing to combine a pretty detailed art guide, literary companion, biographical dictionary, political compendium, Bible concordance, medical dictionary, world gazetteer, almanac of dates, and much more, all in the rather quaint and appealing way that Pears has been doing so well since 1887. Although the new cover is quite up-beat and this proclaims itself the "General Election Edition" with plenty of data dating from 1999 and 2000, the old fashioned font, deliberately retained from the century before last, makes it a comforting little book.

It is, as usual, laid out in sections. This time there are 22, beginning with Events--historical and contemporary--and ending with Atlas of the World, having taken in (for example) Money Matters and Dictionary of Computing on the way. Thus we can learn that in French music "Belgian Cesar Franck (1822-90) was the main figure in the mid-19th-cent" and only a few pages further on that Ballyhennessy Seal was the greyhound which won the 1945 Derby or that the Roman name for South Shields was Caer Urfa.

For curious people, crossword addicts, writers, students, teachers or quiz setters, Pears is probably the most useful all-purpose reference book there's ever been and it doesn't take up too much room. Keep it handy and use it as an investigative starting point on almost anything. --Susan Elkin

Review:

"'A bestseller for the home bookshelf...its coverage is impressive.' The Times; 'A uniquely portable encylcopaedia that covers almost every subject under the sun...Not just a great reference book but also ideal material for browsers everywhere.' Books Magazine; 'Provides easily accessible information in an affordable way...a recommeded addition to any respectable bookshelf.' Aruna Vasudevan, Amazon.co.uk"

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0140297499
• ISBN 13: 9780140297492
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1056
• Editor: Chris Cook