Dictionary of National Biography

About This Book

About This Book

The w:Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) is a 63-volume compendium of short biographies of people associated with Britain, produced between 1885 and 1900. It is still an important secondary source for its subject matter. The volumes were written and edited under the constraints of the late 19th century. This makes it somewhat difficult to understand completely for modern readers. This book is an attempt to help the modern reader make the best use of this valuable resource.

A project is underway at Wikisource to make the entire DNB available, at s:Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900.

Overview

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Table of Contents

• Volume Layout
• Article Layout
• Dates
• Typographic conventions
• Greek letters
• Style
• Assessment
• Article selection
• Authors
• Works
• References
• Images

Appendices

Reference Material

• Glossary
• Frequently Asked Questions

Advice

General advice:

• Asking for Help
• Tips for a Successful Project