- Whitaker's Almanack
Whitaker's Almanack is a reference book, published annually in the
United Kingdom . The book was originally published by J Whitaker & Sons from 1868 to 1997, then byThe Stationery Office , and since 2003 byA & C Black , part ofBloomsbury Publishing Plc .The Almanack
The
Almanack consists of articles, lists and tables on a wide range of subjects includingeducation , thepeerage ,government departments, health and social issues, and the environment.The largest section is the countries directory, which includes recent
history ,politics , economic information and culture overviews. Each edition also features a selection of critical essays focusing on events of the previous year. Extensive astronomical data covering the forthcoming year is published at the rear of the book.Whitaker's Almanack is not an
encyclopedia but more of ayearbook of contemporary matters and a directory of various establishments in theUK (such as clubs, public bodies anduniversities ).Whitaker's was prized enough that
Winston Churchill took a personal interest in the continued publication of the book after itsheadquarters were destroyed inThe Blitz [http://www.whitakersalmanac.co.uk/ Whitaker's Almanack website] , accessed 28 September 2006] ; a copy is also sealed in Cleopatra's Needle on the north bank of theRiver Thames .website]Formats
Each year's Almanack is published in two formats - the Standard
Edition and a shortened Concise Edition. In previous years, a larger-format of the Standard Edition, bound inleather , was produced forlibraries . Both editions were redesigned in 1993 and 2004 to increase the page size and improve legibility.Editors
The Almanack's current Editor-in-Chief is Inna Ward, whilst former editor Hilary Marsden contributes to the "Countries of the World" section.
Editors since 1868
*
Joseph Whitaker 1868-1895
* SirCuthbert Whitaker 1895-1950
* F H C Tatham 1950-1981
* Richard Blake 1981-1986
* Hilary Marsden 1986-1999
* Lauren Simpson 1999-2004
* Inna Ward 2004-presentReferences
*Whitaker's Almanack 2006, ISBN 0-7136-7018-5External links
* [http://www.whitakersalmanack.com/ Whitaker's Almanack website]
* [http://www.acblack.com/Catalogue/details.asp?sku=1421931&dept%5Fid=6 ACBlack.com]
* [http://www.whitaker.co.uk/nbd/about_group.asp Neilsen BookData, formerly J Whitaker and Sons]
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