Whitaker's Almanack 2002: 134th Annual Edition. Standard Edition Book

Whitaker's Almanack is one of that small group of reference books which comes, like Wisden and Debrett, with an implicit heritage tag but still manages to be current and forward looking. Having begun life as Joseph Whitaker's money-spinning journalistic jottings it has now been around so long--Whitaker's Almanack 2002 is the 134th edition--that it's become part of our culture. Quite an achievement for a book that's all, as Dickens' Mr Gradgrind might have put it, "Facts, Facts, Facts". Now published by The Stationery Office, Whitaker's retains its traditional character and charm. As ever, breadth of cover is its greatest strength. In its appraisal of 2001, the 2002 edition inevitably gives very thorough factual information about the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington on September 11. It also gives full UK General Election details with a useful up-to-date listing of who now occupies which cabinet, or ministerial seat and who sits for which constituency. Then, as usual, there are sections on transport, health, heritage, education, finance, law, sport, media, religion and royalty. And that's in addition to central, regional and local government, Parliament, taxation, countries, information technology, environment, societies, institutions and charities. --Susan ElkinRead More