Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia : Fourth Edition (Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia)

See Larger Image	Manufacturer: Harper Collins Written By: Bruce Murphy Average Customer Rating:


Binding: Hardcover Format: Bargain Price Label: Harper Collins Manufacturer: Harper Collins Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 1168 Publication Date: 1996-10-09 Publisher: Harper Collins Studio: Harper Collins
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Editorial Reviews: Here, completely revised, updated and expanded is the classic reference on world literature--the only encyclopedia on the subject in one volume. A must for every book lover. 9,000 information-packed entries alphabetically arranged and extensively cross-referenced.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: I wonder if I can find anything about it in Benet's Encyclopedia? Comment: This book would be an invaluable asset to have handy to anyone who reads a lot.It is a large book ,1144 pages.It is the type of book that will be turned to frequently when you come across something in your reading that you would like to know a bit more about without going to a lot of trouble or checking a lot of sources. The book covers a lot more than literature and authors. It is an encyclopedia in every sense of the word.For instance ,if you have never heard of an author,or a book,that is mentioned somewhere ;there's a good chance that here you will find enough to serve your needs.However;if you do know the author and his works ,you will probably basically know what is in this book. Although most of the reviewers are very "well read";don't assume this is not the book for the "ordinary reader".I consider myself in that second group;and I can vouch that it is very down to earth and jam packed full of information,usable for everybody,regardless of their background or knowledge. I must also warn you that when you pick it up there is a great tendency to flip around it from one thing to another. It is no problem to spend an hour or more glancing through it. It is also the type of thing that can be left around for anyone to pick up,open at a page at random;and they will find something to interest them. It's difficult to say what all's in the book;because it covers all types of things other than literature. Just a few for instances; Pg 321..we get all the rulers of England from 829- present,including their time in office. Pg.44..explanation of Gordian knot. Pg.434.. background of the guillotine. Pg.491..Huguenots Pg.581..Last Supper Pg.717-718..Napoleon I,II &III explained. Artists are covered.I found it interesting that max Ernst is included but not M.C.Escher. We get definitions such as epigram,epilogue,epinicion and epiphany on Pg.325.A flip of pages to 1020, and we get a short explanation of the Thirty Year War,mixed in with authors and book titles. What I've been trying to convey is the wide range of entries in the book and that it covers much more than literature and authors. It is a bit of a guess what you will find;but that is part of the enjoyment you will getfrom this book.You'll find "whore of Babylon" but not "The Butcher's Apron".The Pulitzer Prize winners are all listed. I could go on forever;I'll quit now,as most readers have gotten my pointby now.I hope so,anyway. If you buy this book,or buy it for someone who reads a lot;you'll never regret it. Customer Rating: Summary: A Writer's and Readers Tool Comment: He drove an ambulance during World War 1, before becoming one of America's most famous novelists. Who wrote "Death of a Salesman"? Who wrote "Manhattan Transfer? Who created the character, Sherlock Holmes"? Holden Caulfield was the main character of what famous novel? Who wrote "Catch-22"? These are just some of the questions that "Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia" can answer. Bruce Murphy's book offers biographical notes on writers, synopsis of famous books, plays and poems, descriptions of characters and detailed explanation of literary terms and movements. I have had my copy of Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia since its publication in 1987 and have found no better reference tool for writing research papers and for general literary inquiries. Although "Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia" is over-due for a major facelift, it continues to be a valuable tool - I keep my copy at arms reach along with my copy of "Oxford Companion to American Literature", by James D. Hart. Customer Rating: Summary: Where are the tabs? Comment: I love my 4th edition and am glad I've kept my 2nd edition as now I have the best of both worlds. New info in 4th and the deleted info in the 2nd. The only thing I would do to improve the next edition is go back to the alphabet tabulations. Customer Rating: Summary: The more you know the more you want to know Comment: This is the kind of work which when first dipped into leads to the temptation to dip into it more and more . The sheer amount of information is so great, the entries so various in subject that endless delight is to be found in learning more and more. There are however as with most things, a few problems and limitations. Take for instance the opening entry of the Encyclopedia, the entry on 'Aaron'. We truly learn important things about Moses' brother and mouthpiece. But for anyone who knows Biblical literature not to speak of its commentaries, the entry is a shortcut of shortcuts. And thus misleading. For it does not tell of Aaron's role as leader of the Temple ceremony worship, does not explain his connection with Moses in a deep way, nor even mention their sister Miriam, does not tell of the death of Aaron's son in offering up strange fire, does not tell anything about Aaron's role as ' man of peace beloved by the people'. One of the great farewell scenes of world- literature Aaron's climbing to the top of Har Ha-Hor is not mentioned. I take this one example to indicate another simple truth. An encylopedia of this kind is always best on a subject one does not really know much about. Then anything we are told , adds to our knowledge if not necesarily our understanding. In checking out a number of articles I did not find ' inaccuracy' here. In confronting other subjects I knew nothing about I did have a sense that I was getting reliable information. This is again a good tool and source for attaining first knowledge of a subject. However if one really wants to know and understand the meaning of a particular subject my recommendation would be to supplement this work with other sources of information. Customer Rating: Summary: A Priceless Resource Comment: I purchased this for myself my second year of college. Being an English major especially interested in the Modernists, it soon became the most used volume in my bookcase. A fantastic quick reference when crunched for time and excellent for understanding those oh-so-esoteric literary allusions. It's wonderful, with references for historical and artistic events and movements, novels, epics, authors, poets . . . a must for any lover and/or student of literature. This would make a fantastic gift, too! More Reviews