The Pears' Cyclopaedia was first published in 1897, and over 100 years later is still informing, intriguing and surprising generations of readers with its mixture of little-known curiosities and up-to-the-minute facts and figures, and is still the only book of its kind to be annually updated by experts. This latest edition contains many of the oringinal's favourite topics and a host of new features. There are major sections ranging from world affairs and economics, through literature and music, to science, medicine and the environment; a detailed world gazetteer (with updated census figures); as well as sections on subjects as diverse as sporting winners, art terms and money matters.