The Oxford Desk Dictionary of People and Places

Compare the Oxford Desk Dictionary of People and Places with a full-sized biographical dictionary, such as the Merriam-Webster edition, and you'll note dramatic differences. In overall number, of course, the Oxford Desk Dictionary has far fewer entries--a bit more than 7,500 individuals, compared with the 30,000 in Merriam-Webster's. But it includes many current notables that are omitted from the larger tome. Take a look at the B's, for example. Sure, the Oxford Desk Dictionary draws a blank when it comes to Bourgault Ducoudray (1840-1910, French composer and musicologist), Sir Richard Bourke (1777-1855, British soldier and Australian colonist), or John Bouvier (1787-1851, American lawyer and author of Law Dictionary). But Oxford does include George Booth (1926- , New Yorker cartoonist and author), Bjorn Borg (1956- , Swedish-born tennis champion), P.W. Botha (1916- , former prime minister of South Africa), Boutros Boutros Ghali (1922- , Egyptian diplomat and former Secretary General of the United Nations), and David Bowie (1947- , English rock singer)--none of whom can be found in Merriam-Webster's. And the Oxford font is twice the size, so what is there can be seen and appreciated without a loupe.

And then there's the geography component. Again, comparison with a full-sized geographical dictionary offers perspective. The Houghton Mifflin Dictionary of Geography, for example, claims more than 10,000 entries, plus maps. The Oxford Desk Dictionary of People and Places likewise offers more than 10,000 geographical entries, plus maps. For differences, take a look at the C's. Both dictionaries identify Colombo as the capital and largest city in Sri Lanka, but Houghton Mifflin goes on to provide a short history. They both include Colon, city in northern Panama, but the Oxford misidentifies its population at 140,900 (possibly referring to the larger metropolitan area), instead of the more accurate 59,840 in Houghton Mifflin. In addition, Houghton Mifflin includes Colonial Heights (Robert E. Lee's headquarters in southeast Virginia), colony (general definition), Colophon (ancient Greek city), and Conchos (river in northwest Mexico), whereas Oxford offers Colonia (resort city in Uruguay), the Colosseum (Roman amphitheater), Comilla (city in Bangladesh), and Congo (formerly Zaire).

The Houghton Mifflin maps are much better, but the Oxford Desk Dictionary is more up-to-date, more compact, and more convenient. You can't set too high a premium on space, and in one sturdy volume, Oxford provides both people and places. And if you're more interested in contemporary worthies than in notables from the distant past, then the Oxford Desk Dictionary of People and Places is the clear choice. --Stephanie Gold