The Renaissance: An Encyclopedia for Students [Hardcover]

Charles Scribners & Sons Publishing (Creator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-This accessible, well-organized work is based on the Encyclopedia of the Renaissance(Scribners, 2000). The 465 alphabetically arranged entries, covering the years 1350-1620, include a broad spectrum of topics on concepts; individuals; movements; and discoveries in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Social history is also an emphasis and students will find information on censorship, religion, clothing, childhood, popular culture, love and marriage, and the role of women. The Protestant and Catholic Reformations are not a major focus. Reformation topics are considered in relation to their impact on the period. Numerous see-also references are included. Throughout the set, definitions of unfamiliar words, sidebars, and occasional pictures appear in the wide margins. Other illustrative matter consists of full- and half-page black-and-white photos, reproductions, time lines, and maps. Each volume also includes an eight-page glossy inset of photos and reproductions. The pleasing layout features entry words highlighted in blocks of gold tones and a decorative border that runs across the top of each page. Researchers should find their needs more than satisfied by this appealing and student-friendly resource.-Madeleine G. Wright, New Hampton School, NH
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From Booklist

For those libraries that purchased the critically acclaimed Encyclopedia of the Renaissance (Scribner, 1999) but found that the students were intimidated by the scholarly multivolume set, here is a rewritten and condensed version for the middle- to high-school audience. This version, like the original, is edited by Grendler and published in association with the Renaissance Society of America. Comparisons between the two sets are inevitable, with the scaled-down version having about 460 entries in 4 volumes as opposed to the original set having more than 1,700 in 6 volumes. The student set has 60 color plates, and the original set has 48 plates.

The Renaissance: An Encyclopedia for Students has a straightforward, alphabetical subject organization. The entries cover people, places, events, concepts, works of art and literature, and scientific achievements from around 1350 to 1620. Examples of people who are covered are Fra Angelico, Francis Bacon, Hernan Cortes, Henry VIII, Martin Luther, Teresa of Avila, and William Shakespeare. Other entries cover Art in Italy, Books and Manuscripts, Childhood, Clothing, Humanism, Peasants' War, Science, Venice, and witchcraft, to cite just a few. Cross-references are included at the end of each article, and length ranges from one paragraph to two pages at the longest. A comprehensive index at the end of each of the four volumes references both entries in the specific volume and the whole set. A six-page collection of suggested resources includes Web sites.

Among the special features are short definitions in the margins of words that might be difficult for the intended audience, a time line of major events, and a genealogy of ruling European families. Illustrations throughout the set and four sets of thematic color plates add to the set's appeal. The color plates relate to the themes of "Art and Architecture," "Daily Life," "The Renaissance City," and "New Frontiers."

Grolier's Renaissance (2002) has approximately half the number of entries, uses color throughout, and is designed for a slightly younger group (grades 5 through 10). The Scribner set is an excellent adaptation from the original for a new audience. It is recommended for school and public libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 830 pages
• Publisher: Charles Scribners & Sons; 1 edition (November 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684312816
• ISBN-13: 978-0684312811
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 3.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,892,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)