The Encyclopedia of New England Book

As stated in the introduction, the encyclopedia's creation was motivated by "the relation between the perennial idea of New England's fixed regional identity and the fact that life in the six states is constantly changing." Rather than a straightforward A-Z arrangement, the encyclopedia is divided into 22 thematic sections, each of which contains signed entries in alphabetical order. The sections cover, among other topics, "Cities and Suburbs," "Ethnic and Racial Identity," "Folklife," "Maritime New England," and "Music and the Performing Arts." Each of these sections begins with a list of the entries contained within, including see references to other sections, and a long essay that gives a historic overview of the topic. The arrangement is ideal for those who love to browse. The section "Geography and Environment," to take one example, begins with two separate essays--one for geography, one for environment--that are fascinating reading. Each is followed by a sizable bibliography. It is an easy move to continue reading, picking through the various headings, from Appalachian Mountain Club to Blizzards, hurricanes, and floods; Connecticut River Valley; Great Auk; and Walden Pond. Along the way, the reader encounters a variety of maps, tables, and black-and-white illustrations. Each section carries this same sort of appeal of discovery. For more targeted exploration, the index is an essential tool and is fortunately detailed enough to enable readers to efficiently pull together all material related to discrete topics.Read More