Meet the movers and shakers of the last millennium in this comprehensive and detailed look at the famous and the notorious, along with their achievements, and their legacies. Organized by theme―explorers, inventors, leaders, artists, athletes, musicians, politicians, scientists, writers, and reformers―each section is arranged chronologically by birth date. From Pedro Alvares Cabral to Charlie Chaplin, the fact-filled entries illuminate the life and accomplishments of key figures who helped to shape the last 1000 years, while in-depth features cover the most significant history-makers. Offering unique insight into the lives of the great and famous, and occasionally infamous, this is a superb reference for all the family.

Special Features
• Packed with wonderful illustrations, and photographs
• Special in-depth features about key history-makers
• Brief biographies of key figures appear at the foot of every spread
• Comprehensive index

Grade 4 Up-A thousand years and well over a thousand people are included in this volume. It is organized into 10 thematic chapters, such as world leaders, explorers, scientists, writers and reformers, musicians and dancers, movers and shakers, and sports stars. Within each section, the biographical sketches are organized chronologically by date of birth, which makes the progression quite logical. The emphasis is overwhelmingly Western, focusing almost exclusively on European and American individuals; however, the book does include many lesser-known figures of historical note, especially in the areas of science, invention, and exploration. The majority of the profiles are under 100 words in length, highlighting the person's contribution to world history. The design is excellent, with lots of useful full-color illustrations and archival photos; the volume is strengthened by a simple and comprehensive index. Overall, this is a good, solid addition that would make a handy ready-reference source. The range in coverage is interesting-from Mahatma Gandhi to Timothy McVeigh-and the presentation and writing are well done.
Laura Reed, Pickering Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 6-10. More a browser's dictionary than a resource for reports, this oversize compendium, organized by subject, introduces hundreds of men and women who have influenced the world during the last millennium. Catherine de' Medici, Montezuma, and Haile Selassie (World Leaders); Gustave Eiffel, James Watt, and Alfred Nobel (Engineers and Inventors); Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, David Hockney (Artists and Architects) are among the subjects, each of whom is described in a paragraph or two. Some categories, such as "Sports" and "Musicians and Dancers," are further divided by genre. Adding to the book's usefulness are several informative pages heading each section that describe how the discipline or vocation evolved during the first 1,000 years before the common era. Lots of black-and-white photographs, some average paintings, and an easily read format add appeal to a book that will introduce readers to many unfamiliar individuals as well as a number of people known only by name. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

"The design is excellent with lots of useful full-color illustrations and archival photos . . . A good, sold addition that would make a handy ready reference." -- Review

Clive Gifford is an award-winning author of more than fifty books on the subjects of sports and soccer. His previous titles for Kingfisher include The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia, Soccer Skills, Summer Olympics, and Soccer.