Berkshire Publishing Group

Berkshire encyclopedia of world history; 5v.

This ambitious five-volume reference for high school or general readers tackles a broad field with 538 alphabetically-arranged, signed entries. Prefatory material explains the rationale behind selection of themes and topics, e.g. equal weight to the various regions of the world, and pre-history included as part of the scope. Writers were instructed to discuss topics in terms of their global context. What is not explained is the rationale for an alphabetical arrangement rather than a thematic, regional, or chronological arrangement, any of which would have been more cohesive. The thematic listing of entries included at the beginning of each volume is helpful, but readers will need to juggle three volumes to access, for example, the seven entries on transportation. Also helping to unify the contents is a 56-page essay on world history by David Christian (history, San Diego State U.), and some less extensive "overview" entries. Supplementing the entries are sidebars, quotes, maps, illustrations (b&w), and other features, such as an interesting table showing pronunciation and alternate spellings for a selection of places, people, and terms. Editor-in-chief McNeill (U. of Chicago) is a highly experienced historian, writer, and editor; contributors are academics and independent scholars, all but a few based in the US. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)