Atrocities, Massacres, and War Crimes: An Encyclopedia

Gr 9 Up—With more than 400 alphabetically arranged articles, this set discusses some of the most horrifying aspects of human conflicts and warfare. The introductory material briefly reviews the historical record of atrocities and violent excesses traditionally associated with war, but the majority of the entries describe events of the last century, when technological advances and industrialization changed the scope and devastation of war, even as international standards of acceptable conduct of war were rapidly changing. There are some entries that discuss pre-20th century events, most chosen for their historical or precedent-setting importance. Articles range from a few paragraphs to 10 pages, with an average length of two to three pages. Topics include specific events and incidents, laws, conventions and tribunals that govern warfare, biographical sketches of military and civilian leaders, overview articles about major topics, such as the Holocaust, and summaries of lengthy conflicts in war-torn regions or countries. Authors are thoughtful and objective in both factual coverage and analysis, drawing upon verifiable claims about atrocities, casualties, and destruction, avoiding sensationalizing details. Although the occasional black-and-white photos add little, entries are internally cross-referenced, and each has a short list of recommended titles for further research. Extras include a chronology (which dates back to 689 BCE) and extensive categorical and subject indexes. Although the topics are unpleasant, this set is well written and will prove useful as a ready reference or as a starting point for researchers. A solid purchase for high school and academic libraries.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Public Schools, MO