"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Encyclopedia of the American West covers the 23 states west of the Mississippi River (including Alaska and Hawaii, but excluding Louisiana) from the eighteenth through the mid^-twentieth century. The entries range in length from a paragraph to multiple pages; all are signed (the complete list of contributors is found at the beginning of volume 1, followed by the complete list of entries and authors); and most entries conclude with a bibliography. The articles are scholarly, yet they are enjoyable and easy to read. The two editors are not academics but have written extensively on the American West. The text is supplemented with more than 1,000 black-and-white photographs, drawings, and maps. See and see also references are used generously throughout the encyclopedia. A comprehensive index to the entire set is in volume 4. Preceding the index is a section that arranges the biographical entries by profession (e.g., actors and entertainers, detectives, gunfighters, railroad tycoons, etc.).
The most disappointing item in the encyclopedia is the maps. The state maps are nothing more than locator maps, including only the state capital. Maps of rivers highlight only the river described and include only state boundaries. Overall, the maps add little to the accompanying articles. Historical Atlas of the American West (Univ. of Oklahoma, 1989) provides more detailed maps and more of a selection of topics.
The obvious comparison to be made is with the one-volume Reader's Encyclopedia of the American West (Harper & Row, 1977). There is much overlap between the two works, but each encyclopedia has something to offer. For example, Reader's Encyclopedia includes more biographies and provides the excellent article "Indian Languages," while Encyclopedia of the American West provides the 10-part section "Native American Cultures." Encyclopedia of the American West does not completely replace Reader's Encyclopedia of the American West, but it should find a place in any high-school, public, or academic library that collects in the area of the American West or American studies.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Condition: Good. Good condition ex-library book with usual library markings and stickers. Seller Inventory # 00036492023
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 3.65. Seller Inventory # G0028974956I3N10
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. Seller Inventory # SONG0028974956
Book Description Condition: Fair. Acceptable condition. Former Library book. 4-volume set. With remainder marks. NOT AVAILABLE FOR SHIPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. Seller Inventory # X08OS-00066
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Excellent four-volume set, no marks and very light cover wear. ; 4to 11" - 13" tall. Seller Inventory # 1000073672
Book Description hardcover. Condition: Very Good. ex-library. Seller Inventory # 144914
Book Description hardcover. Condition: Good. Good. book. Seller Inventory # ERICA79100289749563