Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics
Library Journal Review
The 313 biographical sketches collected here profile those the editorial consultants consider the most historically important explorers. All but six are of European extraction; aviators, space explorers, and most of those who promoted exploration--e.g., Prince Henry the Navigator--are excluded. The unsigned articles emphasize the subject's contribution as an explorer or discoverer and include all chronological periods. A detailed index, a glossary of terms, a list by nationality of explorers, and a roundup of areas of exploration somewhat alleviate the limitations of a strictly biographical approach. The Discoverers ( LJ 1/1/80) is a more scholarly reference source that also includes articles on general topics, regions, and non-European initiatives. This clearly written new title will perhaps be best appreciated by general readers. A possible selection for public libraries.-- William F. Young , SUNY at Albany Lib. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
CHOICE Review
Libraries will have to pick and choose among the current flood of books on exploration and discovery. Both books reviewed here set out to cover world exploration through the early years of the 20th century. Both have excellent, though somewhat differently organized bibliographies. Beyond that their purposes diverge. The editorial team for World Explorers and Discoverers opted for selectivity, with more extensive reports on the 313 explorers included. Waldman and Wexler chose to be more inclusive (more than 800 entries) resulting in somewhat shorter entries. They have also included more names associated with land exploration, notably in North America, though the same is true for Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Part of the reason for this divergence may arise from differing interpretations of "exploration" and "discovery," with the former receiving more emphasis in Waldman and the latter in Bohlander. The respective styles lean towards popular and scholarly, although the content in both cases is well researched. Unless there is a very great interest in exploration, libraries will not need both. The decision should be based on need and local readership. Bohlander offers more information on a select number of explorers, and is more likely to be useful to all levels of users, while Waldman has more extensive coverage and more North American information, and is more likely to appeal to the reader in search of quick information. General; undergraduate. M. S. Martin; emeritus, Tufts University
Booklist Review
Over 300 historically significant explorers and discoverers are described in this sizable book. Besides the expected explorers, included are geographers, inventors, and chroniclers who affected exploration. (Excluded are pioneers in aviation, space travel, and mountaineering.) Six experts in history and geography developed the list. Figures range in time from Alexander the Great to twentieth-century explorers, some of whom are still alive. Some people listed are better known in another field: John James Audubon and St. Francis Xavier, for instance. While western-hemisphere figures comprise the majority of entries, good coverage is given of less well known African and Asian discoverers. Writing is clear and accessible to high-schoolers and adults. Entries range from 450 to 4,000 words, depending on the contribution made and the amount of information known about the individual. Each includes a headnote (name, nationality, vital dates and places, achievement) and an essay with details about the subject's life and character, accomplishments, and controversial issues. Black-and-white portraits and maps accompany many entries. A minority of entries conclude with bibliographies. Frequent cross-references and glossary terms are noted. Other sections of the book include an extensive glossary of terms, an index by explorer nationality (including references to Welsh Americans, etc.), an index by geographic area of exploration, a lengthy bibliography (arranged by area and by person), and a general index. The Discoverers: An Encyclopedia of Explorers and Exploration [RSBR O 1 80] has biographies of 223 explorers plus articles on related topics like cartography and space exploration. It is also attractively illustrated, and some libraries owning it may find it provides adequate coverage. The Times Atlas of World Exploration: 3,000 Years of Explorers, Exploring, and Mapmaking [RBB Ap 15 92] shows many of the major explorations on detailed four-color maps and is also beautifully illustrated, but it is not intended to provide biographical information. World Explorers and Discoverers is a current, attractive, readable volume that will be of high interest in this quincentennial year and beyond. It should be considered for library collections, high school and up. (Reviewed Jun. 1, 1992)
