The Harper Concise Atlas of the Bible

n 1987, the parent of this volume, The Harper Atlas of the Bible ( LJ 1/88), enjoyed high praise for its scholarly erudition and cartographic beauty. This condensed version--100 pages shorter and considerably cheaper--offers more direct access to the current knowledge of the historical geography of the Bible. Like its predecessor, the arrangement is chronological, and uses maps, charts, and artwork to visually stimulate its multidisciplinary text. A clear course is stated: the biblical events are of primary importance. What has been gained in this pared down version is a tight, succinct text geared towards the general public and interested laity. The first Atlas commends itself without reservation; having that, the smaller version probably is not necessary. Lacking the full edition, however, consider the concise edition for those collections serving the general public. - Sandra Collins, SLIS, Univ. of Pittsburgh