The Macmillan Encyclopedia 1999 Book

Dipping into The Macmillan Encyclopedia 2001 won't turn you instantly into a Mastermind candidate, but it'll be a good start. As Magnus Magnusson comments on the back of the new edition, "It's a super general reference book: concisely written, clearly displayed, accurately researched--and gratifyingly broad in its scope." The encyclopedia has been heavily revised and updated to reflect important subjects and events in every area of human knowledge. The circa 25,000 entries, which include 700 new topics, are arranged alphabetically in a clear, easy-to-read format and are heavily cross-referenced for ease of use. Copious black and white illustrations are scattered generously throughout the text. They are a mixture of specially commissioned work (on subjects ranging from the shape of wine bottles in France, to some rather fetching sketches of ballet positions), maps, and reproductions of famous cartoons and paintings. A colour plate section features butterflies and moths, world flags and a breakdown of the human body. The book ends with a useful chronology of the last century, which compares significant events in History, Science, and Arts and Culture, from 1000 AD to the beginning of this century. It's a mine of information: for example, did you know that 1963 was the year in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the Profumo affair threatened to bring down the British government, Russia sent the first woman into space, and Sylvia Plath published the classicThe Bell Jar? Maximum care has been taken to make this reference book as user-friendly as possible. It is an excellent reference guide, and will be of interest to readers of all ages. --Aruna VasudevanRead More