Michaela Morrow

BOOK REVIEW: Stranded Encyclopedias, 1700–2000: Exploring Unfinished, Unpublished, Unsuccessful Encyclopedic Projects

Introduction

Book review: stranded encyclopedias, 1700–2000: exploring unfinished, unpublished, unsuccessful encyclopedic projects. Book review of 'Stranded Encyclopedias, 1700–2000,' a study of unfinished, unpublished, and unsuccessful encyclopedic projects from 1700-2000. Discover the history of knowledge.

Abstract

Linn Holmberg and Maria Simonsen, eds., Stranded Encyclopedias, 1700–2000: Exploring Unfinished, Unpublished, Unsuccessful Encyclopedic Projects, London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021, 330 p., $109.96 (e-book) e-ISBN 9783030643003

Review

This entry serves as a book review of *Stranded Encyclopedias, 1700–2000: Exploring Unfinished, Unpublished, Unsuccessful Encyclopedic Projects*, edited by Linn Holmberg and Maria Simonsen, published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2021. The parent volume, spanning 330 pages and available as an e-book, tackles a remarkably niche yet historically significant area: the vast landscape of encyclopedic endeavors that never fully materialized. The review itself is poised to offer critical insight into this edited collection, which promises to shed light on the intellectual, logistical, and often serendipitous factors that lead to projects being abandoned or failing to reach their intended audience. A robust review of this volume would undoubtedly delve into the methodologies employed by the various contributors in their exploration of "unfinished, unpublished, unsuccessful" projects. Given the inherent difficulty in tracing and analyzing non-existent or incomplete works, the reviewer would be expected to critically assess the source material, interpretive frameworks, and the overall coherence of the collected essays. The thematic breadth, spanning three centuries from 1700 to 2000, suggests a rich chronological scope, and the review should evaluate how effectively the volume navigates diverse historical contexts and different forms of encyclopedic ambition across this period. Furthermore, a thorough assessment would consider how the book defines "stranded" and whether it successfully argues for the value of studying these intellectual cul-de-sacs. Ultimately, this book review will be of interest to scholars in the history of knowledge, book history, digital humanities, and cultural studies who are keen to understand the less-trodden paths of intellectual production. The reviewer's evaluation of the volume's theoretical contributions, the strength of its individual case studies, and its potential to reframe our understanding of encyclopedic enterprises will be crucial. By critically examining *Stranded Encyclopedias*, the review will guide potential readers in determining whether this collection successfully unearths the forgotten narratives of intellectual ambition and offers new perspectives on the processes of knowledge creation, dissemination, and failure.

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