Encyclopaedia Britannica, or a Dictionary of Arts and Sciences

ISBN-13: 9780415149563 / Angielski / Twarda / 1996 / 2459 str.

Frank A. Kafker

Opis

Originally sponsored by the editor William Smellie, the engraver Andrew Bell, and Colin Macfarquahar the printer, this work was inspired by the success of Diderot's Encyclopedie. The first English-language compendium to be called an encyclopaedia. Unlike rival publications it was published in quarto rather than the usual octavo or folio format. More importantly the encyclopaedia was compiled on a completely new plan, alphabetically arranged, combining easy reference to individual items, terms and minor topics. Given the speed of publication and the small jack-of-all-trades team involved, the first edition could not hope to rival the Encyclopedie in terms of scholarship.

Recenzje

'It is certainly fascinating and physically attractive ... Britannica themselves have produced their own reprint of the same first edition ... [but] their quality of reproduction is not quite as good as this one, and it was trimmed to a slightly smaller size; it also lacked Frank Kafker's introduction ... this is a very desirable item to have in any major reference collection. A copy would be enlightening ... not just for the history of reference books, but also for the history of eighteenth century philosophy and culture: it is a fascinating monument to its times, as well as the prototype of one of the world's most famous reference titles.' - Stuart James, Editor of Reference Reviews and Library Review

Spis treści

New introduction Frank A Kafker Listings over 3 volumes: A-B 705pp, C-L 1005pp, M-Z 958pp

O autorze

Various Authors, Introduction by Frank Kafker