This major new dictionary surveys the achievements and influence of women throughout the world and across recorded human history. Over 3,000 biographical profiles ranging from Isabel Allende to Benazir Bhutto to the Queen of Sheba are presented in an easily referenced A-Z format. A truly international reference, the Larousse Dictionary of Women brings together women from such far-flung countries as Uruguay, Botswana, Iran, and China with women of the western world. Comprehensive in its coverage, over 80 different areas of interest -- from abolitionist to artist, feminist to faith-healer, gospel-singer to geneticist, and from saint to saxophonist -- are included. Additional reference resources that will prove indispensable to students, educators, and general readers include a fully integrated chronology of womens' achievements, with legal landmarks, Olympic medalists, Nobel, Pulitzer prize, and Academy Award winners, and quotations by and about women. This versatile volume reflects not only the illustrious legacy of the world's more famous women but also highlights hundreds of noteworthy women whose seldom documented, but nonetheless important work, deserves to be brought to attention.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Similar to the Continuum Dictionary of Women's Biography (Continuum, 1989), the Larousse Dictionary of Women is the more substantive of the two works considered here. International in scope, it contains about 3000 biographical sketches of notable women from ancient times to the present. The sketches are two or three paragraphs long and offer quotations, a chronology, and sometimes photographs. About half of these sketches have been gleaned by Larousse staffer Parry from previous Larousse dictionaries, while the remainder are new. Baldwin (Triumph Over the Odds: Inspirational Success Stories, Carol Pub., 1994) has a more limited goal in presenting women who have excelled in traditionally male fields, i.e., law, science, sports, journalism, politics, and business. Despite the title, nearly all of the women profiled are from the 20th century. These profiles are about two pages in length and informal, almost chatty, in tone. Since 106 women are profiled, inevitably there are omissions, e.g., Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman physician in America. Nearly half of Baldwin's subjects are not in the Larousse work. Although Baldwin includes a short list of sources, neither book offers any bibliographic references on individuals. The Larousse work could be a companion to the Continuum work in a public or academic reference collection. Baldwin's book is a marginal purchase for reference collections but may be appropriate for popular circulating collections.?Patricia A. Beaber, Coll. of New Jersey, Trenton
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
This dictionary profiles 3,000 women from all parts of the world from biblical times to the present. Twentieth-century Western women dominate because more information is available on them. Women from all fields, such as Patsy Cline, Olga Korbut, and Marion Zimmer Bradley, can be found, along with George Eliot, Maria Montessori, and Frances Willard. Arranged alphabetically, entries contain a header identifying birth/death dates and what the woman was noted for. Most of the entries are several paragraphs long, but those for Elizabeth I of England and Marie Curie are a page in length. The entries are very current, noting a 1996 death date for Greer Garson and two 1996 Golden Globes for Emma Thompson. Internal cross-references to related biographies are noted in bold type. More than 130 black-and-white portraits are included. Some are of poor quality, such as the one of Jane Addams, which is grainy. British terms are used, such as in the entry on Lizzie Borden, who was accused of killing her "14-stone stepmother." The work also has several typographical errors, such as "Natachitoches" for "Natchitoches" under Kate Chopin. The work concludes with "A Women's Chronology," quotes by "Women on Women," and quotes by "Men on Women."
Continuum Dictionary of Women's Biography (1989), edited by Jennifer Uglow, is another one-volume work on women in all fields. It has fewer entries but does classify the women by occupation in an index. Its currency makes the Larousse Dictionary of Women a welcome addition to public, school, and academic libraries.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
not a serious reference work,
By Jena (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Larousse Dictionary of Women (Hardcover)
I purchased this tome in order to expand my knowledge of lesser known significant women throughout world history. But the book is more akin to a People Magazine's Annual list than an OED of women's history.The book gives short shrift to women from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Its primary focus is on late nineteenth and twentieth century women from the UK and United States. The significance of each woman's contribution to society has no correlation to the length of her entry. Supermodel Claudia Schiffer is devoted more attention than Harriet Tubman and Sandra Day O'Connor.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty awful,
By
This review is from: Larousse Dictionary of Women (Hardcover)
I got this book as a reference resource for my daughter, and quickly regretted it. This book is extremely watered down, and full of historical inaccuracies.
It primarily gives a very "politically correct" version of history, and focuses more on celebrity profiles than actual history. For example, Helen Keller was one of the most significant female historical figures of the 20th century. But her profile was both brief (only 5 sentences) and inaccurate (omitting the most significant achievements of her life). This book is actually disempowering for women.
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