Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia: Fourth Edition

by William Rose Benét, Bruce Murphy

What does it mean to have the voice of a stentor? Where is John o'Groat's House? Ever heard of a beast epic, or the Jindyworobak Movement? And what is the origin of the word "abracadabra"?
The answers lie in this delicious reference that anyone interested in humility should have; just glimpsing it on the shelf reminds one of how very much there is that one does not know. The thousands of entries in Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia cover anything and nearly everything having to do with literature. The book includes biographies of authors, summaries of books and plays, depictions of characters and mythological figures, explications of literary terms and movements, and, well, a whole bunch of other irresistible stuff that is somewhat quirky and utterly engrossing. (For the curious: a stentor's voice is a very loud voice; John o'Groat's House is considered to be the most northerly point in Great Britain; in a beast epic, "the central characters are animals and the tone is often satirical"; the Jindyworobak Movement is "a school of Australian poets demanding fidelity to Australian environment and the employment of aboriginal themes"; and abracadabra is a cabalistic charm.)

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Books About Books, Literary Criticism, Literature, Writing, History

1144 pages, Leather Bound

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Works of William Rose Benét, American writer and editor, include poetry, novels, and The Reader's Encyclopedia (1948).

Stephen Vincent Benét, his brother, also wrote.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Rose Benet is long gone but his work (now at well over 1000 pages) is alive and well covering most all the major works, writers, and movements up to its publication date. You can remember (with the help of an entry) who “Raffles” was. Or, find out what was the extent of “gaucho literature.” Or, get the author and plot summary of “Twenty-six Men and a Girl.”

I have the heavy-weight hardbound edition, but I am sure it would work as well or better in electronic version. However, I have not seen such offered. Is it at all necessary in this world of: “Hey Siri, Who was Sciron?”

I leave that to you gentle readers.

[Janine Oliker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an indispensible book for the serious reader. I note that Tara S. is currently reading Absalom, Absalom, and I am reminded that it was given to me as a gift after we read that book in book club – in 1990. (I own the third edition.)

[Martin Olesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was 16, my high school librarian, my mentor and guardian angel, gave me a copy of the Second Edition. I literally read it from cover to cover. I returned to it over and over, for specific information or for random pleasure. No other book has influenced the path of my reading as much. I have not seen the later editions but I do hope they have maintained the same excellence.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t remember if you read that book? Interested in brief author info? Want to check an unfamiliar reference in your latest reading? Here it is. Unfortunately, with easy internet access, I am assuming this book’s time has come.

[Geri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read & referred to this book for over 10 years. It is endlessly fascinating, entertaining & enlightening. Even if I never intend to read the full version of a book, this encyclopedia provides a quick yet encompassing understanding & awareness of many great works of literature. This encyclopedia was & still is literature's "Google".

[Jeremy]

Pick this book up, flip through its pages, and you'll find that you've passed an hour or two without noticing it. It's an addiction and one topic is referenced to at least two others within the same pages. A reference book with gusto!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this kind of book is outdated so quickly, but i loved this as a teenager and spent hours poring over it. it's still useful for plot summaries, characters, authors, etc. nothing fancy, but certainly absorbing.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource for anyone with an interest in literature.

[Megan Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hours and hours of entertainment. It is like a print-version of Google for literature. Have fun.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for all fans of literature.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-have.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any book that makes me feel so smart when I'm reading it. Or should I say skimming, with the promise to myself that I will, one day, read it from cover to cover.

[Torie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enormously helpful in the days before Wikipedia.

[Elizabeth]

hardcover, dustjacket, second edition 1965

from the jacket: the only encyclopedia of world literature in a single volume

[Mark Dickson]

Along with Edith Hamilton's "Mythology," this is one of the most referenced sources I use in my personal reading.

[Hawthorn Mineart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, and I'm slowly making my way through it.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An editor's best friend before the age of computers!