The American Flag

February 1, 2019

According to Vile (political science, Middle Tennessee State Univ.), America's enthusiasm for the Stars and Stripes and its ubiquity in U.S. culture are fairly unique among the world's nations. Here, a poignant introductory essay lays out how the flag has grown in importance from its colonial origins to the present. Expanding more deeply on the flag's meaning and importance in U.S. history and contemporary life, eight comprehensive essays illustrate the flag's role in American art, music, journalism, and politics. However, the core of this high-quality and informative work is the second part: 200 alphabetically arranged entries on a range of topics from flag etiquette and design to artistic depictions of the flag including poems, speeches, and musical selections. Scholarly references; a time line; a topical list of entries; numerous photographs, woodcuts, and cartoons; and a bibliography of articles, essays, reports, websites, and book chapters enhance the presentation, making the encyclopedia not only ideal for browsing but also a solid starting point for further study. VERDICT A masterly exploration of the American flag, with a potpourri of fun details for anyone with an interest in U.S. history, patriotic symbols, and vexillology.--Rob Tench, Old Dominion Univ. Libs., Norfolk, VA

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2019
This encyclopedia of the American flag truly covers its place in history, culture, and law. Subjects include prominent persons, flag procedures, and related symbols (like the bald eagle). The first part is made up of signed essays, while part two comprises alphabetical entries. In addition to the information found in the entries, there are lists of further reading and cross-references which will aid readers in exploring the book. The work also contains a time line, an index, and a bibliography. This single volume can easily support a curriculum or aid specialized research. Navigating the work is simple enough to support both formal students and self-taught individuals, likely leading to a renewed interest in U.S. history, its symbols, and facts about the evolution of the flag.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)