France and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History (Transatlantic Relations) 3 vol. set [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Bill Marshall (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Part of ABC-CLIO's Transatlantic Relations Series, France and the Americas is being published simultaneously with Britain and the Americas (see our review in the September 1, 2005, issue), a work of similar size and scope. Together, these sets are basic introductions for high-school students and undergraduates to the complex cultural and social relationships between the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the eponymous countries.

In France and the Americas, most of the editorial emphasis is on the strong influence of French and Francophone culture in North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Politics and history run a distant second and third, respectively. Artists, politicians, philosophers, revolutionaries, religious leaders, and soldiers have sufficient coverage regardless of national origin. Therefore, the reader will find articles on French writers as well as, for example, Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, and other American expatriates of the "Lost Generation." Six meticulous introductory essays organize the encyclopedia's main themes and contain helpful cross references. A six-page chronology of consequential events and a topic list round out the introductory elements.

Typical entries average about 500 words, though broad subjects such as Foreign relations, Literary relations, Music, Painting, and Tourism are given longer treatment. Entries are written in a plain and accessible style, with cross-references provided at the end. Reference citations list germane sources for further reading in both English and French.

This encyclopedia was prepared during the 2004 election and includes entries on current topics, such as the Iraq War and 9/11. Details of George W. Bush's more profound impact are dispersed through Foreign relations, Iraq War, and 9/11: Political perspectives. The history and current policies of economic and foreign trade between the U.S., France, and Canada deserve more comprehensive coverage. There are several entries for French modern and postmodern cultural theorists, though the importance of these figures for undergraduates is debatable.

In sum, this encyclopedia (and series) is recommended for small- to medium-sized academic libraries, public libraries, and high-school libraries that support AP programs. Michael Matthews
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1297 pages
• Publisher: ABC-CLIO; illustrated edition edition (May 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1851094113
• ISBN-13: 978-1851094110
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,908,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)