The European Encyclopedia

'A highly readable account of the many permutations of a genre that became familiar to a wide public. The thematic approach is innovative, and the research is mind-boggling in its extent, with coverage of dozens of encyclopedias in several languages. Loveland has written a major contribution to the history of encyclopedism.' Kathleen Hardesty Doig, Georgia State University

'The great fields of the history of knowledge and the histories of print and digital culture have had the encyclopedic tradition on their horizons forever: a jumbled and forbidding mass of peaks (the Encyclopdie, Britannica, Zedler, Larousse, Wikipedia ...), never explored as a whole. This book surveys it in a map of wonderful clarity, fascinating in itself and a sure guide for decades of future exploration.' John Considine, University of Alberta

'... the book is replete with fascinating information.' W. Baker, Choice

'Loveland combines many of the virtues of the encyclopedists themselves. He is formidably well-informed, having mastered the abundant primary sources in English, French and German and the secondary sources in Italian and Spanish as well. He is precise. He is well-organised. His presentation of information is cool, concise, balanced and accurate ...' Peter Burke, Library and Information History

'It would be extremely beneficial for those associated with FE or HE institutions, as it could also be read by students, early career researchers, and faculty in many departments. While the main narrative is a history of European encyclopaedias, it will also be of interest to colleagues working on business and economic history, information studies, world literature and print and visual culture.' Rose Roberto, Publishing History

'Loveland's book will be of interest to scholars of encyclopedism; of eighteenth-century culture in general; and of the relations among technology, authorship, information, and modernizing culture. The book deepens our knowledge of encyclopedias as both reflections and drivers of cultural evolution.' Larry W. Riggs, NPEC Reviews

Jeff Loveland is Professor in Romance and Arabic Languages and Literatures at the University of Cincinnati. He is the author of numerous articles on encyclopedias as well as An Alternative Encyclopedia? Dennis de Coetlogon's Universal History of Arts and Sciences (2010). With Frank Kafker, he also co-edited The Early Britannica: The Growth of an Outstanding Encyclopedia (2009).

1. Genres of encyclopedias; 2. The contents of encyclopedias; 3. Size, price, and the economics of encyclopedias; 4. Preparing an encyclopedia; 5. The organization of encyclopedias; 6. Illustrations in encyclopedias; 7. Authorship in encyclopedias; 8. Publishing an encyclopedia; 9. Readers and users of encyclopedias; 10. Encyclopedias after print.