Historical Dictionary of the British Empire

Panton (emeritus, former dean, Honors Coll, Univ. of Southern Mississippi; Historical Dictionary of the United Kingdom) presents a 20-page chronology that is followed by 700-plus brief entries on people, places, politics, institutions, religion, culture, economy and events. The cross-referenced entries are short, averaging three paragraphs in length each, and succesfully place the subject in its historical context. End matter includes two appendixes; the first details the names, dates, and parties of the colonial secretaries, and the second is a chronology of the membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. Given the briefness of the entries and the availability of such content in demand-driven reference and general ebook collections, this material may not be of great value to libraries, though this reviewer would welcome it if included as part of a larger acquisition package.