A sister set to Worldmark of the Nations (Gale, 1997. 9th ed.), this reference is organized into four volumes by geographic regions: Africa, Americas, Asia and Oceania, and Europe. Each volume begins with an introduction to the region that traces cultural development from prehistory to the present; within volumes, entries are organized alphabetically by culture group. Each of the more than 500 two- to six-page entries cover such areas as language, folklore, religion, food (often with recipes), rites of passage, family life, recreation, and social problems. Most articles are written and signed by subject specialists from around the world. However, some are not signed at all, and many are written by unaffiliated writer/ researchers. Still, the writing is crisp and up-to-date, and the authors offer valuable insights and appear to have spent much time in their respective culture areas. Bibliographies are included along with black-and-white maps of each culture area and, although not richly illustrated, entries do include some black-and-white photos. Each volume has a cumulative general index, a country index, and a glossary of terms. The only comparable work is David Levinson's ten-volume Encyclopedia of World Cultures (MacMillan, 1996), which is more comprehensive, more expensive, and written for a slightly more academic audience. This set is suitable for high school students, college students, lay readers, or scholars seeking general information on world cultures. Highly recommended for high school, academic, and large public libraries.--Jim Woodman, Boston Athenaeum
Gr 9 Up-More than 500 groups ranging in size from 22 members to over one billion are included in this companion to the Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (Gale, 1994). Each volume, Africa, Americas, Asia and Oceania, and Europe, begins with an overview of the cultural history of the geographical area followed by an alphabetical listing of the peoples within its borders. The groups are defined by ethnicity, race, language, religion, nationality, or geography. A few facts, population figures, a simple map, and a list of related articles are included in each entry. For each culture examined, there are 20 numbered sections that discuss such topics as clothing, holidays, food, family life, rites of passage, and social problems. These sections allow for comparative study. While origins and cultural development are discussed, the emphasis is on contemporary life. Recipes, brief retellings of popular myths and legends, and examples of the written languages enliven the text. While some statistics are presented, no sources are cited. Each entry concludes with a bibliography. Occasional, unexciting black-and-white photographs illustrate the texts. A useful index in each volume lists the groups by country. The 10-volume Encyclopedia of World Cultures (Hall Reference, 1994) examines over 1500 cultures but there is less overlap than might be expected. While Worldmark has more accessible language and an easier-to-use format, most large collections will want both for their inclusiveness.-Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal
