Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy

The pomp, circumstance, and silly hats of the recent Royal Wedding put the UK monarchy back in the public eye, setting the stage for Panton's (emeritus, Univ. of Southern Mississippi) fourth historical UK-history themed dictionary for Scarecrow Press. Largely focusing on the people who make up the historical British monarchy, this covers 495 C.E. to the present. More than 600 alphabetical entries comprise the bulk of the volume, including, e.g., Robert II (1316–90) and James I of Scotland (1394–1437). Other entries discuss items, acts, events, and places key to the monarchy, such as the Crown Estate. Articles average about a half to one page in length and are heavily cross-referenced. The volume also includes a chronology, bibliography, and family trees specifically highlighting Britain's kings and queens, as well as the line of succession to the British throne, sure to be a persistent point of curiosity. A 14-page introduction provides a helpful overview of the subject. BOTTOM LINE Perfect for a brief biographical snapshot of a member of the British monarchy; perhaps unnecessary for those libraries owning Brewer's British Royalty(Sterling, 1998). Recommended for larger public and academic libraries where there is demand. For more in-depth biographical material, consider Gale's Biography in Context database.—Lura Sanborn, St. Paul's Sch. Lib., NH