Theodore Besterman, Bibliographer and Editor: A Selection of Representative Texts

by Francesco Cordasco

Overview

Theodore Besterman (1904-1976) is acknowledged as one of the preeminent systematic bibliographers of the 20th century. His interests were wide-ranging, including theosophy, scrying, psychical research, anthropology, and, above all, Voltaire studies. In all these fields Besterman made significant contributions, and his World Biblio-graphy of Bibliographies (4th ed., 5 vols., 1965-1966) and edition of Voltaire's correspondence (107 vols., 1952-1965) are great monuments in the annals of modern scholarship. Cordasco collects representative selections from Besterman's vast oeuvre, with major attention to Besterman's chief bibliographical works and Voltaire studies, and selections from his writings in other fields. Includes a biographical and critical profile of Besterman and a detailed checklist of his writings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810824973
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/01/1992
Series:	The Great Bibliographers , #9
Pages:	497
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.72(h) x 1.31(d)

About the Author

Francesco Cordasco (B.A., Columbia; M.A., Ph.D., NYU), a sociologist and cultural historian, is Professor, School of Professional Studies, Montclair State College, NJ and has had a long and continuing interest in systematic bibliography. Among his many books are A Junius Bibliography (1974; 1986); A Register of 18th Century Bibliographies (1968); The Bohn Libraries (1951); A Bibliography of Robert Watt (1968); Medical Education in the United States: A Guide to Information Sources (1980); and American Medical Imprints, 1820-1910... (2 vols., 1985), which has been judged to be "the 20th century's most important contribution to the historical bibliography of American medical literature." He directed the compilation of the decennial Supplement (2 vols., 1977) to Theodore Besterman's World Bibliography of Bibliographies (4th ed., 5 vols., 1965-66).

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

This new book by Dr. Cordasco enhances the contribution [to that universality of scholarship]; two important bibliographers are, so to speak, brought together between two covers.—from the Foreword by W.A. Munford, Librarian Emeritus, National Library for the Blind, UK

Editorial Reviews

...Especially interesting are the early papers on bibliography in general...and an extensive extract from The Beginnings of Systematic Bibliography. The contents also reveal Besterman's 'rather ornery and somewhat unattractive personality'; even the tributes to him concede that he was difficult."

Journal of Academic Librarianship

Having these pieces assembled in one volume is useful ...

Library Review

...a fitting tribute to a life of great achievement.

Journal Of Documentation

This new book by Dr. Cordasco enhances the contribution [to that universality of scholarship]; two important bibliographers are, so to speak, brought together between two covers.—from the Foreword by W.A. Munford, Librarian Emeritus, National Library for the Blind, UK

From the Publisher

...a lively and valuable volume...the most extensive and complete single-volume record yet assembled of Theodore Besterman's life and work.

AB Bookman's Weekly

...Especially interesting are the early papers on bibliography in general...and an extensive extract from The Beginnings of Systematic Bibliography. The contents also reveal Besterman's 'rather ornery and somewhat unattractive personality'; even the tributes to him concede that he was difficult."

The Journal of Academic Librarianship

...a lively and valuable volume...the most extensive and complete single-volume record yet assembled of Theodore Besterman's life and work.

Ab Bookman's Weekly

...Especially interesting are the early papers on bibliography in general...and an extensive extract from The Beginnings of Systematic Bibliography. The contents also reveal Besterman's 'rather ornery and somewhat unattractive personality'; even the tributes to him concede that he was difficult.

The Journal Of Academic Librarianship

Cordasco (Montclair State College, NJ) collects representative selections from Besterman's vast oeuvre. Major attention is given to Besterman's chief bibliographical works and Voltaire studies, with selections as well from his writings in other fields. Includes a checklist of his writings, and biographical profiles (in which we find no mention of his editorship of the catastrophic Printed sources of Western art series--which helped scuttle Richard Abel & Co.). Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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