Europe Since 1945

Library Journal

"Created to provide a wide variety of useful information...for scholars, students, and general readers interested in postwar Europe," this impressive two-volume work concerns Western and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the successor states to the former Soviet Union. Cook (history, Tulane Univ.) has overseen the collaboration of 286 scholars from 30 countries to produce a resource whose versatility underlies its utility. The subject guide suggests the diversity of the 1700 entries, which, while focusing on politics and geography, also include topics and personalities in the arts, humanities, and literature. Although not as inclusive as Derek Urwin's Dictionary of European History and Politics Since 1945 (Addison-Wesley, 1996), this is a work of far greater scope and depth. Among its shortcomings are a disappointingly sketchy chronology of postwar political events and unbalanced treatment of certain subjects. One would have expected, for example, more expansive discussions of the European Union and NATO, which are relegated to less than six and two pages, respectively. Notwithstanding, this commendable achievement is a useful contribution to the reference literature on contemporary Europe that will be welcomed especially by academic libraries. David Ettinger, George Washington Univ., Washington, DC Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Booknews

Though mainly devoted to political history, this two-volume encyclopedia also contains some entries on artists, musicians, theater, education, women's issues, and writers. Cook (history, Loyola U., New Orleans) was the chief editor for signed entries by 286 scholars<-->except for a curator and two specialists, all are academics<--> from 30 countries. Much of the volumes is devoted to events and personalities in Europe since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The entries on individual countries are particularly extensive, with overviews of post-1945 history, entries on significant events, political groups, the economy, religion, and arts. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)