Sources: World War I: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection

World War I: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection. Edited by Spencer C. Tucker. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2015. 5 vols. Acid free. $520 (ISBN: 978-1-85109-964-1). Ebook available (978-1-85109-965-8), call for pricing.

This past summer marked the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. It is likely not a complete coincidence that numerous publishers are taking this opportunity to publish various monographs and reference sets to coincide with this occasion. The boldly titled World War I: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection has recently come to publication and achieves the lofty proclamations of its title.

One of the most obvious features of this set is its impressive size. Spanning five volumes and much more than two thousand pages, the depth of coverage is staggering. Tried as I might, I simply could not stump this reference set. Everything from lesser-known skirmishes, like the Battle of the Drina River, to essential topics, like the Schlieffen Plan, are included. Most entries run two to four pages in length, but entries of particular importance can expound for upwards of ten pages. Each entry features a short bibliography of further readings that can easily connect scholars to additional, relevant sources, which is an always-coveted feature of a quality reference set. Entries are well written, easy to understand, and are often enriched with illuminating black and white images.

The entire fifth volume in this set is made up solely of primary documents related to the conflict. This volume of documents, of which there are more than two hundred, is organized chronologically into eleven sections. Each document is preceded by an introduction to the source, where the source is given historical context and how it is relevant to the study of the Great War. Most impressive of all is the comprehensive timeline that encompasses the documents. The first section of documents, for example, includes documents dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, while the last section includes documents that date well into the 1920’s. This reference set’s ability to thoroughly frame the study of the First World War with significant primary documents both preceding and following the conflict itself is quite exceptional, and will serve as near essential reading for any scholar looking for a deeper understanding of the war.

While its title may set lofty expectations for itself, it by no means goes over the top. The scope of topics covered is remarkable. The readability of each entry, combined with the ever-useful and always-included bibliography, impresses. That the entire fifth volume, dedicated solely to primary documents that span many years both before and after the war, is both exceptional and one of this set’s most impressive features. The appeal of this set for scholars of the Great War will surely be limitless. This encyclopedia should be considered essential for any academic library.—Matthew Laudicina, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Sojourner Truth Library, State University of New York at New Paltz