This two-volume reference for students and general readers was prepared by Cathal J. Nolan (history, Boston U.), and it falls into the relatively small group of encyclopedias with a single author. He explains in his preface the challenge of compressing the scope and complexity of World War II into an accessible work that offers something more than a superficial review; and he explains his decision to focus on military aspects of the war rather than life on far-reaching social or cultural issues, or the details of diplomacy. His approach is more global than is customary, with much material on often underreported topics such as the Eastern Front and the Sino-Japanese War; and he has aimed to report in an even-handed manner without service to any particular ideological or nationalist point of view. Approximately 2,800 cross-referenced entries are arranged alphabetically. Some entries are as short as one or two lines while others occupy a few pages. Indexing is in the second volume as is an extensive bibliography, organized thematically. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)