Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean: Greece and Rome
This unparalleled reference work for the nonspecialist is characterized by accessibility, a broad range of topics covered, currency of information or theory, and authority of contributors. Only the second edition of the venerable Oxford Classical Dictionary ( 1972) is comparable, though it lacks adequate treatment of more recent concerns and is often too technical. For Greece, the new Oxford History of the Classical World ( LJ 1/15/87) is excellent, but it is much less complete; for Rome, there are Friedlander's and Paoli's works, both outdated. Even though these essays are meant for lay readers, the scholarliness of the contributors is striking. Each essay is accompanied by a helpful, current bibliography. There are no biographies as such, but key individuals are sketched under suitable topics. The excellent 128-page index also is uniquely valuable. James S. Ruebel, Iowa State Univ., AmesCopyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.