Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Bedlam" to "Benson, George" / Volume 3, Slice 5

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

34533

Title

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Bedlam" to "Benson, George" / Volume 3, Slice 5

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume of the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica offers a comprehensive reference guide covering a vast array of topics from Bedlam to Benson, George. Featuring authoritative entries on history, geography, biography, and science, it serves as an essential resource for general knowledge and scholarly research.

Summary up to 500 words

Volume III, Slice V of the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica offers a comprehensive snapshot of early 20th-century knowledge, spanning history, geography, biography, and the arts. The volume begins with an entry on Bedlam, the first English lunatic asylum, detailing its evolution from a priory founded in 1247 to a notorious institution for the insane, noting its relocation to Moorfields and finally Lambeth. Geographical entries provide precise data on locations such as Bedlington in Northumberland, a major mining center, and Bendigo in Australia, a significant gold-field city. Historical accounts cover pivotal events including the Popish Plot, involving the controversial informer William Bedloe, and the Mutiny of 1857 in Benares, where European officials successfully maintained order. The volume also explores cultural and ethnic groups, offering a detailed ethnographic study of the Bedouins, describing their nomadic lifestyle, social customs regarding blood feuds and compensation (diya), and their dispersion across North Africa and Arabia. Biographical sketches highlight the influential Beecher family, including Lyman Beecher, a prominent American clergyman and orator; his son Henry Ward Beecher, a renowned pulpit figure; and his daughter Harriet Beecher Stowe, a literary giant. The text further honors other notable figures such as the musician Georg Benda, whose melodramas influenced Mozart, and the Austrian general Ludwig Benedek. Scientific and medical contributions are represented by Henry Bence-Jones, an authority on diseases of the stomach and kidneys. The volume also delves into the arts and sciences, defining architectural terms like the bed-mould and bench, and discussing the history of the Beefsteak Club in London. Through clear, factual prose, this collection of articles reflects the era's understanding of society, providing a valuable historical document that captures the world as perceived at the turn of the century.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Encyclopedias and dictionaries