From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up—The more than 700 well-organized entries in this set are written in a straightforward and understandable style, though occasional vocabulary may challenge some readers. A little over half of the alphabetically arranged entries are biographical. The set also includes a wide variety of subjects ranging from geography to navigation. The coverage includes explorers from around the world, though less attention is paid to outer space and ocean voyages than in some comparable works. About 60 entries include inset boxes with brief excerpts from primary sources. Longer entries, such as "Women Explorers" and "Africa," contain logical subsections, making the information easier to process. Some articles include black-and-white illustrations, most of which are archival photographs or reproductions of artwork. More impressive are the nearly 80 captioned, full-color plates. These high-quality reproductions include maps and paintings from the past, as well as excellent modern color-coded maps delineating dates and routes of key voyages. References within articles refer readers to the relevant plates when appropriate. Access is fairly efficient, with a thorough index and a topical outline of entries. Though libraries with Carl Waldman's excellent Encyclopedia of Exploration (Facts On File, 2004) may not need this set, it is another useful resource.—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR
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*Starred Review* The subject of world exploration has produced a plethora of biographies, histories, and reference books, many written for grade-school students. Now Oxford, in association with the Newberry Library, has published an outstanding two-volume set for high-school and college students and adults. The Oxford Companion to World Exploration traverses the complete spectrum of world exploration, from the ancient world through current underwater and space exploration. Its 800 entries cover places, people, history, literature, myths, science, and organizations. The text is supplemented by 220 black-and-white and 75 color illustrations and maps, many taken from the Newberry Library's outstanding collection. Arranged in AZ format, entries range from several paragraphs to 20 or more pages and are written by scholars who are experts on the subject. Each ends with cross-references and a bibliography of relevant books and articles. Boxed excerpts from explorers' journals, letters, and books accompany many of the biographical entries. The set also has a topical outline with all the entries listed under 16 subject categories, a directory of all the contributors, and a very comprehensive 100-page index. The well-written essays do more than just give the basic facts; they interpret the subject so its importance in the scheme of exploration is explained. The 27-page essay on Africa includes subentries on not only the history of exploration of the continent but also on geographical barriers to exploration, the role of indigenous porters and guides, and the motives of patrons and sponsors. The article on Alexander the Great covers not only the facts of his expeditions but also the literature of legends that grew up around his exploits and how these legends influenced later explorers. Entries on Atlantis, Chinese exile writers, El Dorado, Fictitious and fantastic places, Imagery of exploration,Travel literature, and more expand the concept of exploration and show how fiction and literature shaped views of foreign lands. At the same size and price, the Encyclopedia of Exploration (Facts On File, 2004) covers similar material. Both sets include articles on exploration of the different continents, with the Facts on File set giving a straight history, while Oxford tends to provide more interpretation of that history. The Facts On File set takes a more granular approach, with 950 entries for people as well as entries for subjects such as aerial photography and the American Geographical Society, while Oxford generally covers broader topics in fewer, longer articles. Even though both sets cover much of the same material, they bring out different aspects and facts on each subject so are not necessarily duplicative. With its articles on the literature and legends of exploration and travel, in addition to historical articles and biographies, The Oxford Companion to World Exploration is a valuable reference set that high-school, adademic, and public libraries should add to their collections. Jacob, Merle
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"The well-written essays do more than just give the basic facts; they interpret the subject so its importance in the scheme of exploration is explained....With its articles on the literature and legends of exploration and travel, The Oxford Companion to World Exploration is a valuable reference set that high school, academic, and public libraries should add to their collections."--Booklist
"Every article is written and signed by a prominent scholar in the field of exploration studies. All entries offer futher reading recommendations. ...Recommended."--CHOICE
"Well-writen and provides an interesting, diverse overview of world exploration."--RUSQ
About the Author
David Buisseret graduated from Cambridge University in 1964, and has since taught at universities in the West Indies and the United States. He currently teaches at the University of Texas at Arlington. Among his publications are: From Sea Charts to Satellite Images: Interpreting North American History Through Maps, University of Chicago Press, 1990; The Mapmakers' Quest: Depicting New Worlds in Renaissance Europe, Oxford University Press, 2003; Creolization in the Americas, Texas A&M Press, 2000; Jamaica in 1687, University of West Indies Press, 2006. He also the serves as the editor of Terra Incognitae, the journal of the Society of the History of Discoveries.
