The Yale Book of Quotations is a comprehensive reference work that provides a wide range of quotations from various sources, including literature, history, politics, and popular culture. Edited by Fred R. Shapiro, the book was first published in 2006 and has since become a standard reference for scholars, writers, and anyone interested in quotations.
History and Development
The Yale Book of Quotations was created to provide a more comprehensive and accurate collection of quotations than existing reference works. Shapiro, a librarian and quotation scholar, spent over 10 years researching and compiling the book, which includes over 12,000 quotations from more than 4,000 sources. The book’s development involved a thorough review of existing quotation collections, as well as extensive research in libraries, archives, and other repositories of historical and literary materials.
Key Features and Strengths
The Yale Book of Quotations has several key features that distinguish it from other quotation collections. One of its strengths is its broad coverage of sources, which includes not only literary and historical works but also primary sources such as letters, diaries, and speeches. The book also includes a detailed index and a comprehensive bibliography, making it easy for users to find and verify quotations. Additionally, the book’s annotations provide context and background information for many of the quotations, helping readers to understand their significance and relevance.
| Category | Number of Quotations |
|---|---|
| Literary Works | 3,500 |
| Historical Documents | 2,000 |
| Political Speeches | 1,500 |
| Popular Culture | 1,000 |
Comparative Analysis
The Yale Book of Quotations has been compared to other notable quotation collections, such as Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations and The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. While these works are also comprehensive and well-respected, the Yale Book of Quotations is notable for its extensive coverage of American quotations and its emphasis on accuracy and verification. The book’s editor, Fred Shapiro, has also been praised for his scholarly approach and his commitment to providing a reliable and trustworthy reference work.
Impact and Reception
The Yale Book of Quotations has received widespread critical acclaim and has been adopted as a standard reference work by many libraries and institutions. The book has been praised for its comprehensive coverage, its user-friendly format, and its scholarly rigor. The book has also been recognized for its contribution to the field of quotation studies, and its editor, Fred Shapiro, has been honored for his outstanding achievement in creating a reference work of such high quality and usefulness.
- The Yale Book of Quotations has been awarded the Outstanding Reference Source award by the American Library Association.
- The book has been praised by scholars and writers, including Harvard University professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin.
- The book has been adopted as a standard reference work by many libraries and institutions, including the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library.
What is the Yale Book of Quotations?
+The Yale Book of Quotations is a comprehensive reference work that provides a wide range of quotations from various sources, including literature, history, politics, and popular culture.
Who is the editor of the Yale Book of Quotations?
+The editor of the Yale Book of Quotations is Fred R. Shapiro, a librarian and quotation scholar.
What are some of the key features of the Yale Book of Quotations?
+The Yale Book of Quotations has several key features, including its broad coverage of sources, detailed index, and comprehensive bibliography. The book also includes annotations that provide context and background information for many of the quotations.
