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NEW PUBLICATIONS

C&RL News, April 2007
Vol. 68, No. 4

by George Eberhart

Angler’s Guide to Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, by Jerald Horst and Mike Lane (444 pages, September 2006), provides colorful illustrations of Gulf fishes that the recreational angler might catch. In addition to identifying physical and behavioral characteristics, the guide indicates the food value for each species and includes similar species that are less tasty or only useful as bait. $35.00. Pelican. ISBN 978-1-58980-388-6.

The Avenger Takes His Place: Andrew Johnson and the 45 Days That Changed the Nation, by Howard Means (286 pages, November 2006), examines conditions in the United States in the weeks after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the confusing muddle of questions that the new president had to contend with—what to do about Southern leaders (especially Jefferson Davis), when to restore constitutional rights to the ex-Confederate states, whether to appease or defy the congressional radicals who called for a severe punishment of the defeated South, and how to handle the issue of suffrage for the newly freed slaves. Rather than exonerate Andrew Johnson, who clearly had major failings, Means tries to show what he was up against. Herman Melville hoped he would be an avenger of the wrongs committed by the South, but Johnson simply was incapable of meeting the challenges that Lincoln might have overcome. $25.00. Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-15-101212-1.

The Enlightenment and the Book, by Richard B. Sher (815 pages, February 2007), looks closely at the authors of the Scottish Enlightenment in 1746–1800, their publishers in London and Edinburgh, and the Dublin and Philadelphia reprinting houses that created a wider audience for David Hume, Adam Smith, James Boswell, Robert Burns, and many other Scots literati. Sher identifies the 18th-century book trade as the “necessary component in the creation and development of the Scottish Enlightenment” and examines the role of such publishers as William Strahan, William Creech, Robert Bell, and Robert Aitkin in the spread of the movement. $40.00. University of Chicago. ISBN 978-0-226-75252-5.

The Impact of Technology on Asian, African, and Middle Eastern Library Collections, edited by R. N. Sharma (278 pages, October 2006), offers some interesting perspectives on libraries in the developing world. Fifteen essays cover such topics as technology in Chinese and Vietnamese libraries, university libraries in India, the role of libraries in combating information poverty in Africa, the partnership of West Virginia State University with the Université Nationale du Benin, and computer-based information in Egypt and the Middle East. $50.00. Scarecrow. ISBN 978-0-8108-5448-2.

Iranian Cinema and the Islamic Revolution, by Shahla Mirbakhtyar (200 pages, August 2006), follows the new Iranian cinema before and after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Mirbakhtyar, an actress herself in at least two of the films she discusses, uses Persian rather than Western reviews and published criticism. She draws the line with films released before 1997, when the moderate president Mohammed Khatami was elected, lifting some of the restrictions on social and cultural issues in cinema. $35.00. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2285-2.

Ledyard: In Search of the First American Explorer, by Bill Gifford (331 pages, January 2007), explores the little-known life of traveler John Ledyard (1751–1789), who accompanied Captain Cook on his final expedition to the South Pacific and traveled across Russia from St. Petersburg to Yakutsk. He died in Cairo during preparations for an expedition across North Africa. Gifford, who personally retraced Ledyard’s route through Siberia, calls Ledyard the archetypal American wanderer who “embodies that uniquely American urge to pull up stakes and go.” $25.00. Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-15-101218-3.

Nicknames of Places, by Adrian Room (357 pages, September 2006), tracks the origins and etymologies of some 4,600 alternate names for cities, states, countries, and topographical features worldwide. Well-organized and comprehensive, the book comes out several notches better than a Google search or Wikipedia in my extremely informal test. Room, a noted British toponymist with 40 reference books to his credit, cites examples of usage where possible and provides appendices on regional nicknames (the Bermuda Triangle), road and street nicknames (the Mother Road), Romany names (Tudlo tem), renamed countries (Dahomey), Roman names for European cities (Lugdunum), English county names (Salop), and astronomical names (Gaia). $75.00. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2497-9.

Out Front with Stephen Abram: A Guide for Information Leaders, compiled by Judith A. Siess and Jonathan Lorig (203 pages, January 2007), brings together the musings and mentations of prolific writer, blogger, and speaker Abram, currently vice president for innovation at SirsiDynix, formerly president of the Canadian Library Association, and president-elect of the Special Libraries Association. Topics include the value of libraries, 32 tips to inspire innovation, competing with Google, Millennials, and preparing for next-generation libraries. Filled with bite-sized and nourishing nuggets of inspiration. $40.00. American Library Association. ISBN 978-0-8389-0932-4.

Stories in Stone: Conserving Mosaics of Roman Africa, edited by Aïcha Ben Abed (188 pages, December 2006), was published to coincide with an exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum from October 26, 2006, to April 30, 2007—the first major U.S. exhibition solely devoted to ancient Tunisian mosaics. Roman mosaics in Africa reflected the interests and artistic sensibilities of private citizens, as opposed to Rome, where the official art was ideological. In addition to a history and thematic treatments, this well-illustrated volume offers chapters on conserving mosaics in situ and lifting them from floors for exhibition. $75.00. Getty Conservation Institute. ISBN 978-0-89236-803-7.

General collections might instead choose Ben Abed’s Tunisian Mosaics: Treasures from Roman Africa (138 pages, December 2006), which is a wider examination of mosaic sites throughout Tunisia, including the treasures at the Bardo Museum. $29.95. Getty Conservation Institute. ISBN 978-0-89235-857-8.

Technology Made Simple: An Improvement Guide for Small and Medium Libraries, by Kimberly Bolan and Robert Cullin (213 pages, September 2006), explains how small libraries with little or no IT staff can plan and implement technical improvements. Although geared for public libraries, small independent research libraries will find some helpful advice. $40.00. American Library Association. ISBN 978-0-8389-0920-5.

George M. Eberhart is senior editor of American Libraries, e-mail: geberhart@ala.org