The Story of the Encyclopedia: History · Compilation · Reviews · Notes · Reminiscences

Author: Jin Changzheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Are you interested in the encyclopedia, which is hailed as the "compendium of human knowledge"? How is it a "university without walls"? Over two thousand years of encyclopedia history have left behind many interesting stories. Modern encyclopedia compilation has become a significant field of study, with tens of thousands of scholars and experts in China contributing entries. How can one write good encyclopedia entries? With hundreds of encyclopedias published worldwide, each with its unique strengths, how should they be identified and selected? The history of the creation of modern Chinese encyclopedias, as well as the joys and challenges of encyclopedia compilers and the successes and failures during the compilation process, may also be what people want to know. This book, The Story of Encyclopedias, addresses these questions. The author has spent years researching encyclopedias and has participated in the overall design and compilation of the Great Encyclopedia of China. He has written this new work in a lively storytelling style, using concise, encyclopedia-style language. It includes interesting anecdotes about the history of encyclopedias in China and abroad, insights from editorial work, critical reviews of various encyclopedias, as well as reflections inspired by encyclopedias and heartfelt tributes to notable figures in the field.