A Dictionary of Dates (Oxford Paperback Reference) [Paperback]

Cyril Leslie Beeching (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0192800566 | ISBN-13: 978-0192800565 | Edition: 2

Which U.S. Presidents were born on the Fourth of July? When did Alexander Graham Bell make the first telephone call? Catherine the Great, Jerome K. Jerome, Baron von Richthofen, Bing Crosby, and Dr. Spock were all born on the same day of the year, but which? Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred and ninety-two--but on what day did he set sail?
Compiler of the London Observer's weekly dates column, Cyril Leslie Beeching, here provides an informative and entertaining listing of important anniversaries for each day of the year. A Dictionary of Dates, New Edition reveals a remarkable number of coincidences, and records births and deaths of the famous as well as significant and unusual events in history. With the bonus of a chronology of world events from the earliest times to the present day, international coverage, and a full index, this is an invaluable reference book for anyone with an interest in history or just plain fascinating facts.
Thoroughly revised and updated for this new edition, A Dictionary of Dates, New Edition is an informative and entertaining guide to important anniversaries for each day of the year.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Whether you want to celebrate James Dean's birthday or commemorate the first transatlantic flight, this almanac of world history will let you know what happened when. Month by month and day by day, A Dictionary of Dates gives anniversaries for everything from major historical events to birthdays (and death dates) of the famous. There's also an index for looking up people and events; a list of dates for important scientific developments; names and term dates of prime ministers and presidents; and a chronology of world history that's simply staggering in its scope. Compiled by the editor of the London Observer's weekly dates column, A Dictionary of Dates is an invaluable reference for teachers, writers, or Web publishers--anyone who wants to put the daily grind into historical perspective. Make it your breakfast companion and you'll never lack for carpool conversation.

Review

"dippers' blissful paradise ... Every single day of the year, plus index of birthdays and chronologies on scientific developments and world events from African hominids to the end of Czechoslovakia."--Observer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2 edition (June 26, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192800566
• ISBN-13: 978-0192800565
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,255,283 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Dictionary of Dates - a Review, February 14, 2001

By 

Ronald Spiegel (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dictionary of Dates (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

This dictionary is subdivided into five sections: Introduction; Dates, Index, Chronology of World Events; Chronology of Scientific Developments; Kings and Queens of England and the United Kingdom; Prime Ministers and Presidents.

It lists significant events on a daily basis such as the birth on 1 January of the British novelist Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849) and the poet Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-61) remembered for the verse "Thou shalt not kill: but need'st not strive Officiously to keep alive".

Each daily entry lists a myriad of interesting scientific, literary, social and historical facts. Walt Disney, American innovator in the movie world, was born 5 December 1901, and on this day in 1933 Americans witnessed the ending of prohibition.

The alphabetical index gives easy access to all events and people listed in the book. However, in some ways I found this rather tedious. For example the listing for Gilbert, Sir William Schwenck guides readers to 3, 13, 24 May; 18, 29 Nov. To find Sir William's birthday you must read all five entries but you will find no details of his death. The entry for 24 May does not refer to Sir William Schwenck Gilbert but to William Gilbert (1540-1603) the royal physician to Elizabeth I and James I. This William Gilbert does not appear in the index!

The Chronology of World Events lists events from Palaeolithic Man to modern times, often in great detail. Nevertheless, I found one entry very frustrating. In 1853 Beeching lists the invention of the syringe in France but does not identify the inventor.

The Chronology of Scientific Developments is subdivided into sections: Medical Science, Telecommunications Revolution, Space Exploration, and Computer Technology. It provides all the information possible within the confines of a small reference book and is a useful stepping stone to further research.

The final sections, Kings and Queens of England and the United Kingdom, and Prime Ministers and Presidents are exactly what their titles imply. Both are clearly laid out reference tools, interesting and invaluable to students and casual readers alike.

On the whole A Dictionary of Dates is a good read. For a small, barely larger than pocket-sized almanac, the dictionary is exceptional value for money and packed full of factual and interesting material.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Dictionary of Dates, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Dictionary of Dates (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

Phenomenal desk resource at work or home. Just the thing to solve those arcane Trivial Pursuit questions or use in Jeopardy. Another fun thing is to surprise friends with (potentially) unknown factoids about what happened on their birth days in other years.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast and professional service, July 13, 2009

By 

Paul R. Francis (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dictionary of Dates (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

Great that the book was sent within one day and arrived without any fuss. Very professional and competent