ABC-CLIO

American Indian religious traditions; an encyclopedia; 3v.

This three-volume encyclopedia is designed to define the academic study of American Indian religious traditions and to provide a reference that is sensitive to the political and ethical concerns of Native communities. Unlike much previous scholarship, this work attempts to present Native spiritual traditions as the practitioners themselves understand them; contributors are both Native and non-Native. While the complex subject matter is presented in more depth than is typical of dictionary-type references, the entries provide only brief introductions to the subject material. Atypical features include the use of first person narratives, the citation of individual Native elders as authoritative reference sources, and the deliberate omission of subjects that are considered private by Native communities. Entries are listed alphabetically, and the index is located in the third volume. The set includes some maps and black & white photographic images. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Ancient Mesopotamia; new perspectives.

This volume introduces students and general readers to the study of ancient Mesopotamia. Independent scholar and archaeologist McIntosh describes the region's four major ancient cultures — Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian — across three millennia. Eleven chapters focus on such themes as Mesopotamia's environmental setting, social organization, material culture, and intellectual accomplishments. The final chapter looks at issues in Mesopotamian culture today (modern day Iraq). (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The Aztecs; new perspectives.

Illustrated throughout with b&w photographs and reproductions, this volume introduces students and general readers to the world of the Aztecs. Coverage includes the empire's political history as well as various aspects of the everyday lives of its citizens. Sample topics include regional trade, social structure, creation myths, architecture, and the education system. A glossary and chronology are found at the back of the volume, along with suggestions for further reading. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Britain and the Americas; culture, politics, and history; a multidisciplinary encyclopedia; 3v.

The involvement of Britain with the Americas from the earliest age of exploration to the present is examined in entries about politics, government, culture, wars, economy, religion, slavery, and sports. The entries include very specific incidents and locales — San Juan Archipelago, Aroostook War, Hay-Pauncefote treaties, and the Rush- Bagot Convention — as well as more general subjects, such as the Atlantic economy, the Cold War, Greece, Iran, Iraq, terrorism, and witchcraft. Multiple entries are included for art and artists, drama, fiction, literary relations, poetry, and slavery, with each of these subjects presented in separate essays on different regions. Five introductory essays provide an overview of Britain's relation with, in turn, the Atlantic, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the U.S. The advisory board for the work is made up of seven academics at universities in England. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Eastern Europe; an introduction to the people, lands, and culture; 3v.

An antidote to the stereotype of Eastern Europe as a monolithic, backward, and totalitarian entity, this three-volume resource offers a look at the history and culture of each nation in the region. Coverage includes three groups of countries, each marked by geographical proximity and a general commonality in historical development. The first volume covers the northern tier of states, including Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. The second examines lands that were once part of the Habsburg Empire and the third looks at the lands once dominated by the Ottoman Empire. Each chapter discusses a single country in terms of its geography, people, history, political development, economy and culture, as well as the challenges it now faces. Every chapter also contains short vignettes that exemplify the uniqueness of the country. Accessible to high-school level students and above, and general readers. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Handbook of Chinese mythology.

Yang (folklore and mythology, Beijing Normal U.) and An (folklore, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing) offer what they believe is the first book on Chinese mythology written by Chinese mythologists in English. Compared to accounts written or translated by Westerners, they say, it provides a native perspective, a more comprehensive picture, an emphasis of the relationship between Chinese myths and their social and cultural contexts, and more selected entries and sources. They look at written and oral sources, various ethnic groups, myth in history, and the chronology of the mythological world. Then they present and analyze myths relating to deities, themes, and concepts. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Holy people of the world; a cross-cultural encyclopedia; 3v.

This three-volume set for general readers offers biographies of holy people including religion founders, leaders, shamans, and other figures honored in indigenous and imported religions worldwide. Other entries cover related topics, e.g. anti-Semitism, death, and gender and holy people. Some 1180 signed entries ranging from a few paragrahs to several pages include references and cross-references; a few b&w photos are included. In her introduction, Jestice (history, U. of Southern Mississippi) acknowledges that coverage is uneven, because scholarly study of the phenomenon of holy individuals in certain traditions has been under-studied, and some religions downplay the role of mediators between the mundane and divine. V.1 covers the biblical "Aaron" to "Gyogi Bosatsu," a 7th-8th century Buddhist preacher. V.2 spans entries from H to P. V.3, covers Q to Z and also contains the cumulative list of entries and index. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Marriage customs of the world; from henna to honeymoons.

Folklorist Monger covers wedding traditions around the world that range from such good ideas as marriages by abduction (remarkably cheap) to Zulu ceremonies in which the two sets of in-laws insult each other until all are exhausted (remarkably proactive). He also describes traditions for getting betrothed, meeting the relatives, running a proper stag party, performing the ceremony, cavorting at the reception, and conducting the honeymoon that could induce cold feet even in the most hot-blooded. For example, be sure the chamber pot out of which you must drink leftover beer and wedding cake is new. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Pop culture Arab world!; media, arts, and lifestyle.

Providing an antidote to western stereotypes of Arabs for general readers, this reference reviews the history and controversies surrounding popular culture in the Arabic-speaking world. Hammond, a journalist who has written extensively on the Middle East, covers Arab popular culture from the golden age of Egyptian cinema in the 1950s and 1960s to the impact of reality television shows in the present. After an overview of the Arab world, he addresses such topics as the press, music, belly dancing and consumerism. Each chapter has a bibliography and a list of relevant websites. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Pop culture Russia!; media, arts, and lifestyle.

Aimed at students, travelers, and general readers, this volume explores popular culture in post-Soviet Russia. It opens with a chronology and a brief overview of Soviet cultural history. The remainder of the volume is divided into six chapters: the media; visual culture; performing arts; music and word; popular entertainment; and consumer culture. Each chapter concludes with an "A-Z" section containing brief entries on important people, organizations, and terms. Beumers (Russian, Bristol U.) is the author of several books on Russian cinema and theater. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The Romans; new perspectives.

Designed as an introduction to Roman culture for the general reader, student, and non-specialist, McGeough's (archaeology & history, Lethbridge U., Canada) text discusses Roman civilization in terms of its location & environmental setting, historical setting, and its origins, growth, and decline. It addresses issues such as economics, social organization, politics, religion, intellectual accomplishments, and concludes with a look at major controversies and future directions in the study of Roman civilization. The book includes a glossary, chronology, and list of sources for further study. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Traditional festivals; a multicultural encyclopedia; 2v.

A freelance researcher/theology student, working on a Laval U. (Quebec City) project translating German theologians, introduces this compendium by noting how festivals offer a respite from normal routines and an important lens on cultures. From Actian games (relating to ancient Roman games) to der Zwölfer (The Twelfth Day of Christmas in Southern German lands), some 150 cross-referenced entries explore sacred and secular aspects of festivals celebrated in many traditions. A comparative approach is taken as warranted. For example, day(s) of the dead festivals of several ancient and modern Eastern and Western societies are presented. Some entries include an unexceptional b&w image and references. Appendices provide further details on special calendar days. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)