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The Quotable Woman

The First 5,000 Years
by Elaine Bernstein Partnow
The Quotable Woman: The First 5,000 Years. rev. ed. Facts On File. (Library of Language & Literature). 2010. 1038p. ed. by Elaine Bernstein Partnow. index. ISBN 9780816077250. $95; Online: Infobase eBooks REF
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This edition is an update of a classic reference work. While the print version will prove useful to library users browsing for quotations, the changes in the reference milieu since the 1992 and 2001 editions make this edition less likely to be used for locating specific quotations. Entries are arranged chronologically then alphabetically by the names of the women quoted. Indexing is by name, career and occupation, ethnicity and nationality, and subject. The subject indexing is adequate but not exhaustive. The quotations section makes up the first 832 pages of the book, and the bulk of the quotations are from the 20th century. The quotations are interesting and thoughtfully chosen; the women quoted are delightfully varied. BOTTOM LINE The searchability of the ebook version (ISBN 9781438131924) makes it a better choice for many libraries. The print version would be preferable for libraries where writers or speakers are likely to be browsing through quotation books for appropriate quotations to enhance their work. Libraries owning the 2001 edition may want to consider purchasing the ebook rather than the print version. Overall, a recommended purchase.—Denise Johnson, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL
Gr 8 Up—A quote, according to Partnow's foreword, merits inclusion in this work only if it inspires, moves, delights, and/or reveals. This revision does that with exuberance and bounty, incorporating more than 4000 new entries spoken or written by individuals from a variety of disciplines, philosophies, and cultures. (Some 1,000 entries from the fifth edition are gone.) Quotes are arranged chronologically by the birth year of the figure quoted, providing readers with a panorama of female thought through the centuries. Four indexes facilitate use: person, career and occupation, ethnicity and nationality, and subject. There is a scarcity of contributors born after 1970. Unfortunately, for Sarah Palin, Partnow selected five quotes, all of which have been mocked in the media. Also, out of the 18,000 quotes in the book, Sotomayor's controversial "wise Latina woman" quote appears on the front cover. Still, no other book of quotes comes close to having such an impressive representation of women. Despite a few flaws, this work is organized, thorough, and well researched.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Library, NC
Reviewed by Jennifer Prince , Dec 01, 2010
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