ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

New Publications

George M. Eberhart

The Cambridge Illus- trated History of the Brit- ish Empire,edited by P. J. Marshall (400 pages, June 1996), examines the interac- tions of England with its sub- ject peoples from 1783 to the 1960s. After opening with four chapters on the evolu- tion of the empire during this period, seven chapters focus on specific themes—eco- nomic conditions in the em- pire, political concerns, the emergence of identities and new nationalities that followed the movement of peoples within the empire, the diffusion of British culture and ideas, the cities of the em- pire, and its art. The last three chapters are written by an Australian, an Indian, and a Ni- gerian who offer their assessments of British rule. $39-95. Cambridge University Press, 40 W. 20th St., New York, NY 10011-4211. ISBN 0- 521-43211-1.

For those readers having difficulty keeping track of British imperial dates, territories, and rulers, The British Empire: An Encyclopedia of the Crown’s Holdings, 1493 through 1995, by John Stewart (370 pages, June 1996), provides the answers. A chronology is followed by an exhaustive list of colonies, dominions, protectorates, mandates, and other entities, which provides the dates of subjection, location, history, and the names of successive governors. $65.00. McFarland & Company, Box 6ll, Jefferson, NC 28640. ISBN 0-7864-0177-X.

The Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather,edited by Stephen H. Schneider (929 pages, 2 vols., April 1996), encompasses much more than meteorology and atmospheric physics. Modern climatology requires knowledge and experience of such topics as biomes, fuels, forested areas, oceans, glaciers, historic events, environmental economics, and energy supply resources, all of which are represented. Several essays examine the effects of climate on culture, notably religion, folklore, music, and literature. The encyclopedia contains many illustrations, charts, and tables, including a list of popular names for small-scale winds and a diagram depicting the intricacies of a lightning stroke. $195.00. Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. ISBN 0-19- 509485-9.

Information Revolution: Pathway to the 21st Cen- tury(95 pages, June 1996) contains papers presented at the Special Libraries Asso- ciation’s 87th Annual Con- ference in Boston, June 8-13, 1996. Topics include the Microsoft Library, Cyberstacks (at http://www. public.iastate.edu/cyber stacks/), and INTELINK and intelligence com- munity libraries. $25.00 (SLA members, $20.00). Special Libraries Association, 1700 Eighteenth St., N.W., Washington, DC 20009 ISBN 0-87111- 459-3.

The New Niagara: Tourism, Technology, and the Landscape of Niagara Falls, 1776-1917,by William Irwin (276 pages, May 1996), examines Niagara’s rise and fall as a symbol of America’s cultural progress and its synthesis of nature and technology. John Roebling’s railway suspension bridge, completed in 1855, paved the way for tourism and industrialization at the Falls and ushered in a New Niagara that made Americans feel that they had finally conquered the wilderness. Irwin focuses on Niagara’s bridges, the development of the state park reservation, electrical power stations, utopian real-estate schemes, the Pan-American Exposition of 1901, and the Shredded Wheat factory. $45.00. Penn State Press, 820 N. University Dr., Suite C, University Park, PA 16802. ISBN 0-271-01534-9.

The Oxford Book of Classical Verse in Translation,edited by Adrian Poole and Jeremy Maule (606 pages, November 1995), though presenting the works of classical Greek and Latin authors, is more a showcase of the interpretive talents of the many poets who translated them into words that resonated with their contemporaries. Some of the greatest English language poets are featured here—Ben Johnson, Alexander Pope, John Dryden, Percy Shelley, Elizabeth Barrett Browning—along with many 20th-century poets from North America, Ireland, and Great Britain. It is culturally instructive to compare the varying treatments of, say, the poems of Catullus by such writers as Thomas Campion, Leigh Hunt, Thomas Hardy, Richard Lovelace, Walter Savage Landor, Douglas Young, and Robert Clayton Casto. Original spellings have been retained to emphasize historical differences. $29.95. Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. ISBN 0-19-214209-7.

George Eberhart is editor and compiler ofThe Whole Library Handbooks for ALA Editions (1991, 1995). He served as editor of C&RL News from 1980 to 1990.

For those who wish to find out more about the Greek and Latin authors, try Classical Studies: A Guide to the Reference Literature, by Fred W. Jenkins (263 pages, February 1996), an annotated listing of bibliographical and information resources, including the Internet, research centers, and professional associations. $43.00. Libraries Unlimited, P.O. Box 6633, Englewood, CO 80155. ISBN 1-56308-110-5-

The Painted Photograph, 1839-1914: Origins, Techniques, Aspirations,By Heinz K. Henisch and Bridget A. Henisch (242 pages, September 1996), is the first comprehensive history of overpainting black-and-white photographs from the earliest years to World War I. Photographers, eager to please a public that at first could not understand why color images were not obtainable, began to apply hues and tints using watercolors, oil, chalk, and crayons. By the mid-19th century, overpainting became commonplace as an alternative to traditional portrait painting. In describing the different techniques in America, England, and other countries, the authors survey colorization of daguerreotypes, tintypes, imprinted porcelain, milk glass, enamel, magic lantern slides, and textiles. The numerous illustrations enhance understanding of these forgotten methods. $75.00. Pennsylvania State University Press, 820 N. University Dr., Suite C, University Park, PA 16802-1003. ISBN 0-271-01507-1.

Propaganda for War,by Stewart Halsey Ross (341 pages, May 1996), examines how World War I was “packaged, promoted, and sold to a gullible nation as a holy crusade against evil.” The author, a retired public relations executive, describes British and German propaganda efforts to influence American opinion before 1917, as well as the censorship and news management activities of President Wilson’s Committee on Public Information (headed by propaganda czar George Creel), the first overt government propaganda agency in American history. Ross’s research is thorough, well-documented, and serves as a useful commentary on the issues and attitudes of the times. $42.50. McFarland & Co., Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640. ISBN 0-7864-0111-7.

Racism in Contemporary America,compiled by Meyer Weinberg (838 pages, January 1996), lists nearly 15,000 books, articles, dissertations, reports, and other materials under 87 subject headings, including those for specific states. The section on racism in higher education has 1,121 listings. Entries are assigned brief annotations when the titles are not self- explanatory. Most listings date from the 1980s or 1990s, although there are references from earlier eras. An author index and an ethnic- racial index offer additional access. Beware the fine print! Introduction, text, and indexes are all in 7-point type, so bring along a magnifying glass if you are an aging Boomer. $125.00. Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881-5007. ISBN 0-313-29659-6. ■