Pears' Cyclopaedia 2017-2018

First published as the Pears Shilling Cyclopaedia in 1897 by Queen Victoria's famous soap-makers to celebrate her golden jubilee, this treasured reference compendium condenses a world of information into one concise volume. Pears is still the only book of its kind to be fully revised and updated annually by a dedicated team of experts, making it the favourite encyclopaedia, crossword lifesaver and quizzing Bible for thousands, year after year.

The quintessentially British almanac, Pears' Cyclopaedia continues to inform and intrigue generations of readers with its unique mix of solid facts and fascinating gems. Now in its 126th year, this ultimate volume offers clear and concise information on such wide-ranging subjects as global events, Norse mythology and modern cinema.

Updated regularly by editor Chris Cook and his panel of experts, this handy and beautiful edition includes new entries for all major events from 2017-18 and all the traditional favourites - from public figures and celebrities, through medical matters and classical mythology, to a gazetteer of the British Isles and the latest tax advice. This is a world of knowledge rolled into one must-have volume - the Swiss army knife of reference books.

About the Author

Dr. Chris Cook has been editing Pears' Cyclopaedia since 1977: the year of the Queen's silver jubilee, James Callaghan and The Clash. The world has changed since then, but Pears' remains the only book of its kind to be updated and revised annually. Dr Cook is helped in his yearly task of overseeing a varied team of expert contributors by his love of reference books, the compulsive reading of every kind of newspaper and his formidable academic record in creating historical works that have been translated into a dozen languages.