In over 700 alphabetical entries on key aspects of French culture since 1945, this groundbreaking work provides valuable in-depth information on topics which traditional reference works often neglect. Reflecting the growth of cross-disciplinary concerns, the encyclopedia covers fields such as film and media, sports, gender, food and wine, education, literature, technology, politics and linguistic issues. The entries include short biographies of influential figures such as Jacques Brel, Coco Chanel, and Francois Truffaut as well as brief factual pieces, major articles and overviews on subjects across the entire spectrum of contemporary French culture: Abortion, Advertizing, Beur Cinema, Canal Plus, Francophone Press, Gay Activism, Green Politics, L'Equipe, Management Style, North Africa, Paris-Match and an inclusive range of other topics.

Edited by an author of many books on African writers and literature, this encyclopedia covers all aspects of African literature produced in all of the major languages. Both sub-Saharan and North African literatures are represented, although for works in Arabic the focus is on the modern period.

More than 600 signed articles by academic specialists treat mostly individual authors, both well known and less established. Longer essays deal with historical and cultural issues concerning the study of African literature, including criticism and theory and its development as a field of scholarship. Essays on Autobiography, Feminist criticism, and Islam in African literature, as well as regional overviews such as Gikuyu literature and West African literature in English, make this a useful starting point for exploration of African literature. Because these more general articles are one of the strengths of the work, it would have been helpful to list them in the fore matter, as it is a guessing game to find them. Most articles, including the biographical entries, have a very small list of references for further reading. Although reasonably up-to-date, these lists are often a mixture of a few primary and secondary works, not the most impressive feature of the volume.

This revised edition of Encyclopedia of the Renaissance (1987) has approximately 2,100 entries, 200 of which are new. Length ranges from a paragraph to two pages, with diverse entries such as Erasmus, Desiderius; Libraries; and Spanish Inquisition. The fact that the scope has been widened to encompass the Reformation means that many articles have been expanded. Other revisions reflect recent scholarship with enhanced coverage of, for example, literacy, families, and the role of women. Editors Speake, a prolific reference book editor, and Bergin, a Yale University professor now deceased, were also responsible for the first edition.

Grade 10 Up–This encyclopedia will serve students well with articles on such topics as tsunamis, global positioning systems, the ozone hole and the greenhouse effect (with an exceptionally clear diagram), as well as more prosaic and specialized geological terms. However, global warming does not have a separate article, nor are there any references to it listed in the index. This is a major shortcoming for students, who may be disappointed that this topic is not described with the same rigorous treatment as the others. The language is definitely for advanced students; it's clear but it assumes some prior knowledge. The longer articles include recommendations for further reading but there is no other documentation. Nineteen feature essays cover topics of relatively popular interest, like sea level rise, "Earthquake Warning Systems," and plate tectonics. Technical terms are defined in short entries, but there is no separate glossary. Indexing and cross-references are accurate. High-quality, black-and-white diagrams appear throughout. This volume is for serious students who may need to follow through on cross-references to understand fully the scientific vocabulary.

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ANCIENT EGYPT is the first single-volume reference guide to the remarkable culture that flourished on the banks of the Nile from the predynastic period, 3200 B.C., to the fall of the New Kingdom in 1070 B.C.
Illustrated with more than 175 line drawings, maps, and time charts, over 1,500 entries span all the gods, rulers, cities, and themes important in ancient Egypt, including:
-Art and Architecture
-Pyramids
-The Sphinx
-The Military
In addition, several extensive essays on such key topics as astronomy, mortuary rituals, agriculture, further illuminate this fascinating period of civilization.