Review by Choice Review
Translated from German, this book joins previous dictionaries of symbols. The author claims his book is not Eurocentric, since it also contains symbols from Asia, Africa, and the New World among its nearly 600 entries that explore some 2,000 symbols. Although not an ethnographer's idea of cultural inclusiveness, the work treats occasional symbols from such groups as Aztecs and Tibetans; otherwise it covers the same European heritage as its rivals, with a sprinkling of Chinese, Egyptian, and Hindu symbols. Of the other dictionaries, J.E. Cirlot's Dictionary of Symbols (2nd ed., CH, Jan'73) is most scholarly, while J.C. Cooper's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols (CH, May'79), Ad de Vries's Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery (1974), and Steven Olderr's Symbolism: A Comprehensive Dictionary (CH, Nov'86), like Biedermann, are all accessible to general audiences. Biedermann lists the symbols alphabetically, provides authoritative entries that vary in length, and includes references to literature, mythology, associations, and historical use. Related entries are capitalized in the text. A general bibliography, primarily of German works, ends the book. Handsome and reasonably priced; 600 black-and-white illustrations. Recommended for academic and public libraries, especially if they lack the previous works. G. M. Herrmann; SUNY College at Cortland
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
The Dictionary of Symbolism is a scholarly work intended to acquaint the reader with significant cultural symbols throughout the history of civilization. The work was originally published in German in 1989, as Knaurs Lexikon der Symbole, and, with this first English edition, the title has now been translated into 18 languages. Biedermann concentrates on the meanings of images for various cultures. He attempts to avoid Eurocentrism and includes symbols from the traditions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. More than 500 entries, arranged alphabetically, focus on legends, mythical figures, animals, objects, natural phenomena, conditions, psychological states, events, designs, and images. Some entries receive considerable textual attention, while others are dispatched in a paragraph. Each entry discusses the origins, variant meanings, and power of the symbol. For example, the entry golem discusses Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the golem of Jewish myth, and the Christian Adam "before his soul was breathed into him." Calumet links the native American peace pipe to sacred pipes in Central Europe and to the medical caduceus, the messenger's staff in classical western tradition. Biedermann links entries together in a variety of ways. Words in an entry that have a separate listing are in small-capital letters; and see also references to related articles appear at the end of entries, where appropriate. The author specifies the origin of some terms, but not all. Especially useful is a detailed index that is arranged by name of the symbol, with related entries and page numbers listed below each one. The dictionary is illustrated in black and white with more than 600 depictions of the symbols from works appearing through history. While some symbols have no pictorial representations in the book, the entry rat, for example, has two: an English woodcut, 1650, depicting rat catchers, and an 1846 children's book illustration of rat tails as symbolic of confusion. All the illustrations are reproduced together at the back of the book in a unique 35-page "Pictorial Index" that refers the user to the page in the text where the image is discussed. Also included is an extensive bibliography, much of it German in origin, that represents works from Europe, Africa, Asia, classical antiquity, the occult, and most recognized religions. Libraries owning Cirlot's Dictionary of Symbols (1971) will notice content similarities between the two works. However, the Dictionary of Symbolism includes such recent, and perhaps controversial, symbols as unidentified flying objects and names of such individuals as Xanthippe that have cultural and psychological connotations for today. In addition to this type of dictionary, libraries may want to own a reference work such as Liungman's Dictionary of Symbols (ABC-Clio, 1991), an excellent dictionary of ideograms and signs from many cultures, especially useful for graphic designers and artists. The Dictionary of Symbolism is an asset to those libraries focusing on literature, psychology, orientalism, mythology, the classics, or civilization in general. (Reviewed Feb. 1, 1993)
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
This reference work defines symbols not only as visual icons (including shapes, color, and geometric designs) but also as biblical, classical, and mythological figures; botanics; minerals; and animals (real and mythical) as they relate to literature, dreams, art, and so forth. The choice of the over 2000 cross-referenced terms included here was necessarily subjective, for almost anything in the universe can be construed as having an emblematic meaning. Prehistorical to modern periods are covered and, although there is a Western emphasis, the author attempts to place symbols in appropriate cultural contexts. This work, which consolidates much arcane information, is valuable for its elucidation of both the esoteric and commonplace. Generally recommended, although there is no need to duplicate if a collection has sufficient works of this nature. A similar title, Carl G. Liungman's Dictionary of Symbols , was chosen as one of LJ 's best reference books of 1991.--Ed.-- Janice Braun, Oakland, Cal. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Library Journal Review
