Overview
Description
This extraordinary work of reference is nothing less than an A-Z of everything - from Abbreviations to Zip Codes. Painstaking in its quest for accuracy, comprehensiveness and truth, the book contains nothing gimmicky, no superfluous illustration: it is pure fact. Many of the sections stand up in their own right as reference works - e.g. the music section encompasses more information than many specialist music books, the history section contains a detailed chronology of world history with every major event being listed. The geography section includes the only fully comprehensive list of every known capital, even uninhabited Pacific islands. 1.What was the name of the only painting sold in Van Gogh's lifetime? 2.Which classic novel's first line is: 'There was no possibility of taking a walk that day?' 3.Which planet's fifteen satellites are all named after Shakespearean characters? 4.Which country's National Flag is the only one to have different emblems front and back?
As with the second edition, the new "A TO Z of Everything" has been updated and added to (and corrected). New material for this edition will include a Politics section revised and enlarged in the wake of the General Election and, by popular demand, a section on the derivation of phrases and sayings. Other additions include sections on county flowers, Jane Austen's characters, and the National Parks of England, Scotland and Wales. The dedicated Current Affairs section will be revised to cover the two-year period since publication of the second edition. The Music section now lists all UK No. 1 singles since 1959. (Trevor works every day of the year to ensure that the book is as up to date as possible on publication). This ever more monumental work of reference is a must-have title for your bookshelf - enjoyable to dip into, and a sheer cornucopia of fact.
Synopsis
In this new edition, the original topics have been brought up to date, added to and elaborated upon: Abbreviations, for example, now includes an essential array of chat room acronyms; Fashion boasts a complete list of British Hairdressers of the Year; and Music features a comprehensive listing of every Top Ten single of the last 40 years. There is a wealth of new subjects to be discovered and enjoyed too, from the Top Tens of 2002 to world coins and paper money, bingo calls to crime and punishment, the Mr Men books to the works of Charles Dickens. What can be Big Boy, Early Girl or Supersonic? Which British Prime Minister links John Lennon and Gary Lineker? Which classic novel begins "Now, what I want is facts"? This work of reference is both an enjoyable book to dip into and a cornucopia of fact.
As with the second edition, the new "A TO Z of Everything" has been updated and added to (and corrected). New material for this edition will include a Politics section revised and enlarged in the wake of the General Election and, by popular demand, a section on the derivation of phrases and sayings. Other additions include sections on county flowers, Jane Austen's characters, and the National Parks of England, Scotland and Wales. The dedicated Current Affairs section will be revised to cover the two-year period since publication of the second edition. The Music section now lists all UK No. 1 singles since 1959. (Trevor works every day of the year to ensure that the book is as up to date as possible on publication). This ever more monumental work of reference is a must-have title for your bookshelf - enjoyable to dip into, and a sheer cornucopia of fact.
Information
This extraordinary work of reference is nothing less than an A-Z of everything--from Abbreviations to Zip Codes. Painstaking in its quest for accuracy, comprehensiveness and truth, the book contains nothing gimmicky, no superfluous illustration: it is pure fact. Many of the sections stand up in their own right as reference works, eg, the music section encompasses more information than many specialist music books, the history section contains a detailed chronology of world history with every major event being listed. The geography section includes the only fully comprehensive list of every known capital, even uninhabited Pacific islands. This book is a tour de force, one that every home will require to settle trivial pursuits and significant arguments.