Modern Scandals: 1904 - 2008

Nothing is new under the sun, as this chronological encyclopedia shows, and there are few things more readable than the foibles of the well known and/or well-to-do. Murder, adultery, fraud, deception--every variation of bad behavior is reported in the 400 entries, about figures in the movies, politics, sports, academe, diplomacy, banking, and the aristocracy. Rather than sensationalizing them, the contributors present each story in a journalistic tone, then report on its impact, providing the reader with a larger context of the scandalous nature of the act or event against the ethical standards of the time. Each entry concludes with an annotated list of further reading and a detailed cross-reference to other entries. A disproportionate space is given to current affairs, with Vol.3 containing scandals from 1998-2008 (Vol.1 contains the years 1904-1972). A fun or depressing read, depending on one's point of view, for students and the general reader. Illustrated in b&w. An online database is included with purchase of the set. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)