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Synopsis
With entries for nearly 400 individual monarchs and 450 royal dynasties worldwide, and 140 entries on topics related to royal rule, this is an impressively comprehensive reference, with concise, accessible text presenting information on rulers from ancient times to the present. Rulers and dynasties are included from ancient Egypt, the ancient Near East, China, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Topics of the thematic entries include dethronement, royal councils and counselors, primogeniture, taxation, warfare, and royal weddings. The volumes are illustrated with b&w illustrations, maps, and inset boxes. Each entry includes a short list of further reading. The set is suitable for high school and beginning undergraduate students and the general reader. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Library Journal
Middleton (The Ultimate Strategy Library) and his 14 advisors and contributors have produced an encyclopedia that treats monarchy as the truly royal subject it is. More than a list of lineages, this three-volume work provides introductions to almost 400 individual monarchs, 450 dynasties, and 140 topics related to monarchies, covering all regions of the world and all historical periods. Each volume contains a table of contents and a list of features as well as both general and biographical indexes that apply to all three. Volume 1 includes a "Chronology of Dynasties and Kingdoms," and Volume 3 features a lengthy bibliography. Articles-most with a small number of recommended readings-range from a few paragraphs to several pages in length and are all cross-referenced. Black-and-white photos, portraits, and maps accompany some of the articles, but this is not a heavily illustrated work. Bottom Line Although it contains some errors (e.g., the century in which Henry VIII became infatuated with Anne Boleyn), this work is suitable for a general audience. Its comprehensive treatment of monarchy as a universal social and political phenomenon is a welcome change to strictly biographical or genealogical approaches. Highly recommended for high school, public, and academic libraries serving lower-division undergraduates.-Rosanne M. Cordell, Indiana Univ. Lib., South Bend Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.