The New York Public Library Book of Chronologies

Contains hundreds of precise timelines of political, popular, and historical subjects, including tables of evolution, religious movements, and jazz greats

Chronologies traditionally present the events of a given year in parallel, subject-oriented columns. This book makes the subject the primary focus, with 250 separate chronologies, each covering an area of history or culture, organized under 14 topics. Within each chapter numerous lists trace subjects that relate to the major one. Featured, boxed chronologies complement that. For example, boxed chronologies in the World Exploration section detail the voyages of Columbus and Magellan. Under Religion are lists of Popes and Archbishops of Canterbury by date. Pages are double-columned, with the year in bold type on the left. The pages are visually pleasing. Each entry consists of a brief sentence. The book's arrangement is especially useful in providing an overview of a subject; it is not as useful for scanning the events of a particular year. The index is general and not always helpful. Some terms do not appear, and one must use the detailed table of contents to lo cate the appropriate topic and then scan to find the event. The chronol ogy is most similar in coverage to The Timetables of History (S. & S., 1979) and is very up to date. The date of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait is included (although it cannot be found using the index), as are recent developments in Eastern Europe. This book is fun to browse through and would move well in circulating collections. At the reference desk it would be useful for finding important dates on a specific subject, but it does not replace standard chronologies; it is by no means a necessary purchase. Note: There is no mention of a connection with NYPL except in a publishing capacity.
- Marlene M. Kuhl, Baltimore Cty. P.L., Md.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.