A120

Encyclopédie des sciences religieuses, redigée par les savants catholiques. les plus éminents de France et l'étranger. Paris, Letouzey et Ané, 1907- . v.
To find a copy, check the separate listing for each volume.

Part 1. Dictionnaire de la Bible, by F. G. Vigoroux and L. Pirot. 1907-12. 5 v. Supplément, 1928- . v. See (B85); Part 2. Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, by A. Vacant and others. 1909-50. 15 v. Tables générales. 1951-. v. See (B139). Part 3. Dictionnaire d'archéologie chrétienne et de liturgie by F. Cabrol and H. Leclerq. 1928-53. 15 v. in 30. See (B294). Part 4. Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, by A. Baudrillart. 1929- . v. See (E7). Part 5. Dictionnaire de droit canonique, by A. Villien and E. Magnin. 1935- . v. See (D146).

Each of these works is listed and evaluated separately in this bibliography. In general, one can say of them that no more complete treatment of their subject fields can be found in reference form, or perhaps in any other form. Each article is of monograph length, is signed, and contains an extensive bibliography both in the text and in a separate list.

The series is listed in every standard bibliography of reference works and is given the highest praise. Both Winchell and Walford call them works of the highest quality of scholarship and bibliography. Dutcher says of them, "Each of these works, in its own field, approximates the scale of the series as a whole" (George M. Dutcher, A Guide to Historical Literature [New York, Macmillan, 1936], p. 119); and Paetow predicted that "this set will be the largest work of reference on religion in any language" (Louis J. Paetow, Guide to the Study of Medieval History [New York, Crofts, 1931] , p. 16).

The only general criticism one can level against the work is one common to many French publications, namely, the delayed schedule of publication of the individual dictionaries, which is so serious that the early volumes are usually out-of-date before the set is half complete. Attempts at updating through supplements usually tend to make the work more difficult to use and are themselves on a delayed schedule.

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