C. J. Date is an independent author, lecturer, researcher, and consultant, specializing in relational database technology, a field he helped pioneer. He is best known for his book, An Introduction to Database Systems (8th edition, 2004), which has sold over 750,000 copies and is used by several hundred colleges and universities worldwide. He is also author of many other books on relational database management, including Logic and Databases: The Roots of Relational Theory (2007). He was inducted into the Computing Industry Hall of Fame in 2004.
More than 1,200 alphabetical entries cover Steinbeck's major works along with lesser-known articles, family, friends and biographers, books read, and awards. An introductory essay by Steinbeck scholar Jackson J. Benson, a list of Steinbeck archives, university collections, and research centers, and an extensive bibliography add dimension to the numerous lengthy, signed entries. An alphabetical list of entries begins the encyclopedia, providing a useful, quick overview of the main text. An additional topical list indicates the volume's scope, grouping entries under headings for specific awards; concepts and characters in Steinbeck's works; literary, political, and cultural influences; and places, ships, and vehicles, both real and fictional. Entries guide users to additional and related information through boldfaced terms and names, along with see references. The editors specifically designed the encyclopedia for use by high school and college students, literature teachers, and scholars. A detailed index completes the work. Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. -Choice