From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up–Students and teachers will find a wealth of information for reports, papers, and projects in this clearly written work that covers both the European and Pacific arenas. In addition to the major belligerents, the roles of other countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Brazil, and Iran, are discussed. The set begins with three essays that provide an overview of the war, its origins, and its legacy. These are followed by generally lengthy, alphabetically arranged, signed entries. Descriptions of individuals, atrocities, weapons, military tactics, campaigns, and battles are accompanied by statistical charts and black-and-white maps and photos. Controversies are explored as are the roles of women, music, art, propaganda, and the homefront during the war. Volume one includes a set of general maps; volume five is devoted to primary documents including speeches, laws, eyewitness accounts, accords, and reports. These range from an excerpt from Adolf Hitler's
Mein Kampf to a 1949 U.S. report on Soviet espionage. The well-organized set is easy to navigate; there are numerous see-also references, a list of entries, and an extensive set index in volume five. This comprehensive account is an essential addition to all reference collections.
–Madeleine G. Wright, New Hampton School, NH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
*Starred Review* Intended for grades seven through the adult level,
The Encyclopedia of World War II is the latest work overseen by Tucker, editor of the award-winning
Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War (ABC-CLIO, 1998), among other titles. Unlike regionally focused resources, such as
World War II in Europe: An Encyclopedia (Garland, 1999), and encyclopedias with a U.S. perspective, such as
World War II: The Encyclopedia of the War Years, 1941-1945 (Random House, 1996), this set covers "the entire scope of the Second World War from its earliest roots to its continuing impact on global politics and human society."
The 1,465 alphabetically arranged articles provide an international perspective on people; key battles, campaigns, and events; military equipment and strategy; countries; and other relevant topics. Examples of article titles include Afrika Korps; Displaced persons; Italy campaign; Jeep; Krebs, Hans; Military medicine; Sport and athletics; and Wannsee Conference. Country entries not only cover the main Allied and Axis powers but also such countries as Afghanistan, Brazil, Estonia, Iraq, Mexico, New Zealand, and Somalia as well as world regions (e.g., Latin America and the war). To facilitate use, some articles contain geographic subheadings.
Throughout, the contributors provide equal treatment of both Allied and Axis powers. For example, the article Propaganda not only covers propaganda programs in the Axis countries but also propaganda in Britain, the Soviet Union, and the U.S. Besides focusing on events and issues occurring during the war, many articles--such as Cold War, origins and the early course of and Film and the war--shed light on the war's impact on postwar society.
Length of entries varies from one-fourth of a page (e.g., Shimada Toyosaku) to several pages (e.g., the seven-page Women in World War II). Entries are signed and end with see also references and a reference list of mostly books, both old and new. Text is complemented by 395 black-and-white photographs and 19 tables. Volumes 1 through 4 each provide a complete alphabetical list of all entry titles and an 18-page map section. An additional 55 maps accompany relevant articles. Volume 4 includes a 10-page chronology, a 10-page glossary (mostly abbreviations), a 25-page bibliography (not annotated), and a list of the 248 contributors, most of whom are U.S. academics. Volume 5, edited by Priscilla Roberts (University of Hong Kong), provides the full text of 238 documents arranged chronologically, beginning with an excerpt from Hitler's Mein Kampf (1924) and ending with a 1949 document on Soviet espionage during World War II. Volume 5 also contains a cumulative index. Additional features include 13 sidebar articles on controversial issues and turning points in the war (e.g., "A Turning Point? Battle of Stalingrad"). Three general essays reviewing the origins, overview, and legacy of the war begin the set.
More scholarly than the chronologically arranged History of World War II (Marshall Cavendish, 2004), The Encyclopedia of World War II updates, expands, and provides new material not covered in The Oxford Companion to World War II (Oxford, 1995). An excellent resource for high-school, public, and academic libraries. Stephen Fadel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
