Customer Reviews

The New Encyclopedia of the American West (The Lamar Series in Western History)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although primarily a reference book, it is the kind I would like to read page after page. I wish it had been printed in two volumes. The type is extremely small and tiresome to read at any length

Indispensable for us, ignorant Europeans.
I needed some informations abut the early organization of the Texas Rangers, and it was there.
The printing is very clear, and the paper very nice, as most American editions, so I have no quarrel with that book, except for its
unavoidable weight which makes it awkward for in bed browsing.

I'll agree with the previous critque...great content, though the small typeset detracts from the readability

This book is a remarkable publication, and no one who cares deeply about the history of the American West, should be without it. I highly recommend the hard bound version however (simply because this single volume weighs over six pounds and would be much more difficult to read, in paperback form).

Lamar and his legends of writers have created a phenomenal, exciting, compendium of all manner of interesting information regarding the people, places and events that formed the American West, and you will absolutely love browsing through this book.

Its single weakness is that (yes, it's true) the font size is slightly below what it should have been, and you will need good light and decent eyesight to read it comfortably! I would even recommend for some, a reading glass..ideally, this should have been a two volume work, with a larger typeface.

Having said this, it is still definitely a 5-star book, and in fact the hundreds of incredible pictures, photographs and illustrations, are in themselves a highly valuable and interesting reference.

The editing and writing in this work, seem to be extremely well done, with facts and details about so many persons and events carried to the highest level of accuracy and interest. I guarantee that anyone reading this volume, will discover facts and interesting information about the West, that they never imagined.

I purchased this encyclopedia to supplement reading I have been doing of the history of America, especially the west. It is a terrific source of bibliography. However, I have found several inconsistencies just from recent readings regarding Lewis and Clark and Kit Carson biographies. Not a huge issue, as I don't take everything I read as 100% truth. Take written history as more of an opinion.