The Cambridge Biograqphical Dictionary

Crystal, David; David Crystal (Edited by)

ISBN 10: 0521567807 / ISBN 13: 9780521567800

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, New York, Melbourne, 1996

About this Item

495 pp. Clean, fresh copy with very light shelf wear, crisp pages and clean text.

Seller Inventory # 4iiiAg0021

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Cambridge Biograqphical Dictionary
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, New York, Melbourne
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521567807
• ISBN 13: 9780521567800
• Binding: Trade Paperback
• Illustrator: Unit 18 Photography (Cover Image)
• Edition: 1st Publ. 1996
• Condition: Like New
• Seller catalogs:
  • Reference Books
  • Academic, Scholarly, Research
  • Biography, Autobiography

About this title

Synopsis

The Cambridge Biographical Dictionary is the outstanding paperback reference guide to the world's noted personalities, living and dead. From Aeschylus and Alexander the Great to Franco Zeffirelli and Louis Zukovsky, from Chinua Achebe and Larry Adler to Zhuangzi and Zoroasta, this alphabetical book provides the essential details on more than 14,000 people from the past and present – some generally famous, others recognised within specialised fields throughout the arts, sciences and sport. By offering year of birth and (where appropriate) death, place of birth, profession, a succinct description of achievement, and in many cases pronunciations and cross-references to other personalities, the entries in this book amount to the most accurate and up-to-date compendium of world biography available in paperback.

Reviews

Grade 10 Up. Most of the information in this paperback has been culled from The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia (Cambridge Univ., 1994). The preface explains that efforts were made to ensure more comprehensive multicultural coverage and to include more figures from 20th-century popular culture (e.g., Madonna, Dr. Seuss, Fran Tarkenton). A "How to Use" section explains the format and cross-references, and includes a pronunciation guide. The entries are brief?with the exception of world political leaders such as Napoleon I, George Washington, and Adolf Hitler?and include major activities or contributions. In some cases, persons associated with the figure appear in bold type within the text. Cross-references are listed at the end of the articles. They are confusing at times because not all the names cross-referenced have entries. Paul McCartney and John Lennon are cross-referenced to one another, George Harrison has no cross-references even though he has an entry, and Ringo Starr does not appear in the book. There are other omissions. Rodgers and Hammerstein are included but Joshua Logan is not; John Jacob Astor is profiled but Isidor Straus is not. Still, this volume would be a good purchase for quick facts and ready-reference questions.?Maureen Connelly, New York Public Library
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