The Oxford Desk Dictionary of People and Places

by Abate, Frank

• ISBN13: 9780195138726
• ISBN10: 0195138724
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-08-03
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

In The Oxford Desk Dictionary of People and Places , readers will find a depth of information and a range of coverage that surpasses even unabridged dictionaries. The biographical section covers more than 7,500 individuals, from earliest recorded history right through to the present. Each entry includes pronunciation, the date of birth and death, nationality, and significant achievements. We learn, for instance, that Chinua Achebe was born in 1930, is a Nigerian novelist, poet, short-story writer, and essayist, wrote Things Fall Apart (1958) and Anthills of the Savanna (1987). The next entry tells us the Dean Acheson was U.S. secretary of state who urged international control of nuclear power, was instrumental in the formation of NATO, and implemented the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine. Major historical figures, such as U.S. presidents, have boxed entries that include a wealth of information about their private lives and public careers. The geographical section covers some 10,000 places of all kinds. Coverage includes all the nations of the world (with helpful locator maps), capitals, major or historic cities and towns, important regions, notable geographic features (such as mountain ranges and ocean currents), and places that have played a part in world history or culture (such as Agincourt or the Acropolis). With fascinating appendixes that cover everything from Academy Award winners to the major volcanoes of the world, The Oxford Desk Dictionary of People and Places offers a wealth of reliable information in a handy, affordable format.

Author Biography

Frank Abate is the Editor in Chief of the Connecticut-based Oxford U.S. Dictionaries Program. He is a lexicographer whose credits include more than 20 different dictionaries. Most recently, he edited The Oxford American Dictionary and Language Guide and The Oxford American Dictionary of Current English.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
How to Use This Book	ix
Abbreviations	xiii
Pronunciation Key	xiv
Dictionary of People	1	(418)
Appendixes	419	(452)
Presidents of the United States of America	421	(1)
Monarchs of England and Britain	422	(2)
Prime Ministers of Great Britain and the United Kingdom	424	(2)
Academy Award Winners	426	(7)
Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees	433	(3)
Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees	436	(2)
Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees	438	(2)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees	440	(3)
Dictionary of Places	443	(428)
Appendixes	871	(8)
Oceans & Seas of the World	873	(1)
World Land Area by Continent	874	(1)
World Population by Continent	874	(1)
Major Mountains of the World	875	(1)
Major Volcanoes of the World	876	(1)
Major Natural Lakes of the World	877	(1)
Major Rivers of the World	878	(1)
Largest Metropolitan Areas of the World	879