As we approach the 100th anniversary of the incomparable 1920s, it is obvious the Twenties are once again roaring in America. Between the smashing success of television shows like Boardwalk Empire and the imminent release of the modern retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the Twenties have clearly reentered the popular consciousness in America. For those looking to research this unique time in American history, there is this excellent work.

The Twenties in America is a three-volume set containing approximately 675 entries from over 300 contributors. The scope of this encyclopedia is impressive; topics can be as broad as “Immigration to the United States” and “Business and the Economy,” or as specific as “Bread Slicer” and “Cotton Swabs.” Even though over 300 different experts in the field had a hand in the creation of this encyclopedia, each entry is cohesive and consistent, which is a testament to the deft skills of the editor, Carl Rollyson.

Each volume is organized alphabetically by entry title. Within the appendixes and indexes in the third volume, users can also find information organized in a multitude of ways, such as a “List of Entries by Category,” in a chronological time line, and by “Personages Index.” Varying in length between one half and two pages, each entry begins with brief, key information about the topic. Entries are enriched with a bibliography at the end, some of which are annotated. A comprehensive bibliography is critical for any historical reference source, and The Twenties in America is supported with extensive research.

Many libraries might already own the 1920–1929 volume of the popular American Decades (Gale Research, 1994) reference set, which sets out to answer the same questions as The Twenties in America. Fortunately, these two reference sets complement each other very well. American Decades is organized first by subject, and then chronologically, making it an excellent resource to browse for a research topic. However, since the entire decade is condensed into a single volume, the amount of information contained in each entry is fairly modest. Once users have discovered their topic in American Decades, they can then refer to alphabetically arranged The Twenties in America and easily find a more thoroughly researched and enriched encyclopedia entry.

Well-organized and clearly written, The Twenties in America is an exceptional encyclopedia for finding authoritative reference information on the uproarious 1920s in the United States and Canada. With its extensive bibliographies for each entry, The Twenties in America would make an excellent addition to any academic library looking to enhance their collection with what could easily become the preeminent reference source on the twenties.