There is a lot to like about Scarecrow's various Historical Dictionaries series. The books are written by experts in the area or country that is covered. All contain well-written brief histories of the country and chronologies that, though they cover historical time periods, heavily feature more recent events. Brief A-Z entries cover the main people, politics, social issues, foreign affairs, institutions, and policies that make the country unique. Extensive bibliographies are divided into several general subject areas. -Booklist While the initial historical dictionaries dealt with nations, it is clear that within these nations there are cities, states (or provinces), and regions that are sufficiently important or striking that they deserve special attention. This series began with cities of particular note, cities whose attraction extends far beyond the boundaries of their own country. This may be for cultural reasons, as for Paris and London, or for economic reasons, as for Tokyo and Osaka, or for political reasons, as for Washington, D.C. And, in most cases, they are also "must sees" on the main tourist routes and have been enjoyed by countless millions of visitors. So it is helpful to have a good guide, this time of more than just the tourist spots, to show how they originated, expanded and rose to prominence. But it may be hard to separate a city from its hinterland since the interpenetration is so great, and thus a book on the city and also the state (or province) can be more useful, most notably in the case of Guangzhou (Canton) and Guangdong. Or the region may have integrated over the decades and be best understood as a whole, as for New England in the United States. Whatever the reasons, we certainly hope these books will be helpful guides not only for tourists but all those who are interested.

Editor(s): Jon Woronoff