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William Rose Benét (1886–1950)

Author of The Reader’s Encyclopedia

51+ Works 2,069 Members 21 Reviews

About the Author

Image credit: Luis Quintanilla

Works by William Rose Benét

The Reader’s Encyclopedia (1948) — Editor — 1,781 copies
Poems for Modern Youth (1900) 15 copies
The Poetry of Freedom (1948) 12 copies
Dust Which Is God (1941) 11 copies
The spirit of the scene (2007) 4 copies
Poetry package 2 copies
Poems for Youth (1966) 1 copy
Starry Harrness (1933) 1 copy

Associated Works

A Child's Garden of Verses (1885) — Introduction, some editions — 8,080 copies
Adventures in English Literature (1931) — Editor, some editions — 241 copies
The Standard Book of British and American Verse (1932) — Contributor — 114 copies
The Guide to Reading (1922) — Contributor — 59 copies
An American Omnibus (1933) — Contributor — 31 copies
60 Years of American Poetry (1996) — Contributor — 28 copies
Dark of the Moon: Poems of Fantasy and the Macabre (1947) — Contributor — 26 copies
Bright ambush (1934) — Foreword, some editions — 7 copies
The Boys' Book of the West (2005) — Contributor — 3 copies
Poetry Magazine Vol. 6 No. 5, August 1915 — Contributor, some editions — 1 copy
Columbia poetry, 1936 — Introduction — 1 copy

Tagged

19th century (72) Ambleside (36) anthology (64) AO (27) AO1 (67) art (29) books (38) books about books (44) CGV (45) children (243) children's (350) children's book (39) children's books (77) children's literature (155) children's poetry (122) classic (87) classics (91) encyclopedia (118) English (41) English literature (35) fiction (161) hardcover (54) illustrated (61) juvenile (58) kids (30) literary criticism (29) literature (341) non-fiction (149) own (40) picture book (120) poems (95) poetry (1,810) read (36) reading (37) reference (504) Robert Louis Stevenson (47) Stevenson (26) to-read (59) verse (31) vintage (29)

Common Knowledge

Members

Reviews

The author writes in the preface that he has endeavored to edit this reader’s encyclopedia in such a way as to enlarge upon original entries from the past with modern treatment; to feature both obscure works and those better known; and to offer brief explanations of significant figures, movements, and terms from aesthetics, science, philosophy, economics, and politics that may be relevant for readers.

Indeed, at first glance, this volume seems quite comprehensive. Yet, enigmatically, some of the most obvious and needed entries are nowhere to be found. For example, suppose you wanted to discover in which book you could find “Pip” ( the protagonist and narrator in Charles Dickens’s novel “Great Expectations”). Pip is not there, nor is his actual given name in the story, Philip Pirrip. Only if you know to look up “Great Expectations” will you find reference to him or to Miss Havisham, although Miss Lonelyhearts, from Nathanael West’s novel, makes the cut.

Similarly strangely omitted, you will find an entry for Georgette Heyer, but none for Regency Romances, or even the Regency Period generally.

“Cat” is an entry, but “Cat in the Hat” is not, although Dr. Seuss is. Nor is “Madeline,” the famous character in books for children by Ludwig Bemelmans, who does appear as an entry. Neither Margaret Wise Brown nor her iconic book, “Goodnight Moon” are included. In general, children’s literature is a much neglected category in this book.

Generally, however, the range of entries is excellent and often surprising, and extends beyond the West, always a sadly anomalous plus.

It’s fun just to page through the book, in which you will find all kinds of tidbits of information, from background on Octavio Paz to Greenwich Village to the French Cordeliers to the significance of the number nine.

I use this book as a coffee table book to stimulate conversation.
… (more)
1 vote
Flagged
nbmars | 19 other reviews | Jan 18, 2022 |
Classic encyclopaedia for serious readers covering subjects and characters encountered in literature. I have the original first edition in four volumes. One of the great reference books created by scholars.
 
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georgee53 | 19 other reviews | May 10, 2018 |

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Works
51
Also by
13
Members
2,069
Popularity
#12,421
Rating
4.2
Reviews
21
ISBNs
24
Languages
2

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