Books - [network reviews]

THERE WAS A time when the publishing of archives, both public and private, was considered one of the great projects of civilised society. The creation of the Dictionary of National Biography, the Calendars of State Papers, and many similar `library?? publications was considered a vital step in making records that were only `theoretically?? available, genuinely accessible, readable and understandable. But today, such things are, sadly, rare. These projects require huge patience and an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject; publication is expensive, and the audience is considered by many publishers to be simply too elusive. Frank AJL James?? brilliant editions of the Correspondence of Michael Faraday comprehensively prove such sceptics wrong.