Ferguson Rebecca. The Handy History Answer Book

2nd ed. — Visible Ink Press, 2006. — 673 p.When I was asked to research and write the first edition of this book, my first thought was that history—with decade upon decade of fugitive dates, people, and places—was particularly well-suited to the Handy Answer Book format. My second thought was that it could not be done. History was too big a subject to squeeze itself into a finite series of questions and answers, neatly arranged by subject, trimmed and bound into a manageable size. But soon, very soon, the questions suggested themselves: What was the Pax Romana…the Trail of Tears…the Gunpowder Plot…the Oath of the Tennis Court…the Boxer Rebellion…the Battle of the Bulge…VE Day…Black Friday? Who were the Huns…the War Hawks…the Big Four…the Robber Barons? Who was Carrie Nation…Alex de Toqueville…Clara Barton…Balanchine? What were the Crusades… the Rights of Man…the Boer Wars…the carpetbaggers?
And so the first edition came into print—and stayed in print, the audience keeping it in demand. The comments I have heard and read from readers have been truly gratifying. The Handy History Answer Book is being used as a study aid for high school and college students; as an introduction to broad subjects, such as the world wars, for younger students; as a refresher for history buffs; and as pleasure reading for the curious-minded of all ages. Readers have called it nifty, handy-dandy, and history in a nutshell. The book found its audience.