The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions

This book takes a more 'modern' approach to allusions; it almost seems directed more at a very educated reader who has absolutely no grasp of 20th-century pop culture than the more traditional approach of explaining hoary classical and mythic allusions to individuals who have not been classically educated. For example, there are entries for Monty Python and Perry Mason, but none for that favorite of 18th century painters and poets, Corydon. It does what it does well enough, but except for the very youngest readers, I should think that a more traditional reference would be at least as useful.