The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Scotland

Rating:
Summary: Good information source for those interested in Scotland
Review: Scotland is a country with a lot of history and therefore a lot of stuff to be included in an encyclopedia. This book attempts to include as much information as possible within the confines of a single volume work. On the one hand it is great because you end up with a single volume with entries for just about anything you would want to look up. On the other hand because there are so many entries many of them are not a very thorough treatment of the subject. The book actually ends up with such short entries that it actually seems to fall somewhere between a dictionary and an encyclopedia, more than a dictionary entry, less than an encyclopedic entry. With the occasional longer article that is very well done and more in line with a traditional encyclopedic entry, lots of photos, and listings for just about everything, every place, and everyone with links to Scottish history The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Scotland is still a recommended read for anyone interested in Scotland.

Rating:
Summary: A superb basic reference
Review: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Scotland is a straightforward reference filled with place names, historical figures, Scottish terms and more that one is likely to encounter when studying Scotland's history and present-day circumstances. Full-color yet moderately small illustrations, one on each page, add a visual touch to a small handful of the entries. The entries are of course listed in alphabetical order, and most of them are quite brief, succinctly summarizing the topic in a single paragraph. A superb basic reference, especially for those who need to be able to digest the significance of a term related to Scotland in a bare minimum of time.