Grade 9 Up?Brimming with astrological, astronomical, historical, cultural, and mythological information, this systematic, wide-ranging study lacks only a sufficiency of illustrations to keep it from being the last word on the subject, at least for small and midsized reference collections. After brief descriptions of zodiacal variants from other parts of the world, plus chapters on the historical foundations of astrology and its pervasiveness in the arts and sciences, Snodgrass treats each sign to a full workover: major stars in each, mythological background and symbology, commonly accepted character traits of those born under its influence, and thumbnail biographies of select prominent people who exemplify those traits. No fewer than five appendixes, including a nice table for hypochondriacs titled "Zodiacal Pathology," precede a large, if not exhaustive, bibliography and index. Except for direct quotes, which are frequent and generous, Snodgrass seldom cites her specific sources. Though her writing style is distinctly flowery ("The nightly shift of the sidereal mosaic has supplanted the boisterous stories of Chiron and Hercules with a resplendent serenity"), the absence of pictures, aside from a stylized image of each chapter's head, turns parts of the discourse into recitations of abstract facts. Nonetheless, though not a reference tool for professional astrologers, this is detailed enough to give researchers from any other field a solid grounding in one of humanity's most ancient lines of inquiry.?John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Traditionally considered superstition, astrology has nevertheless had an impact on the human experience since ancient times. Snodgrass (Encyclopedia of Utopian Literature, ABC-CLIO, 1995), the author of numerous award-winning reference works, relates belief in the influence of the stars on art, philosophy, science, religion, psychology, literature, and mythology from 2750 B.C.E. to the present. Introductory chapters provide a zodiacal overview, while the main portion of the book tackles each sign individually, discussing origin, symbolism, and associated character qualities. An historical time line, solid bibliography, and constellation profiles are appended. This objective, thorough presentation of the cultural implications of astrology is an excellent addition to available histories (e.g., History of Western Astrology, Boydell, 1987) and is recommended for the practitioner, researcher, and informed reader. For libraries in search of a good ready reference on the history of astrology.?Kelli N. Perkins, Herrick P.L., Holland, Mich.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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