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Britannica Publishes 2004 Almanac
Second Edition of Fact Book Leads Continuing Trade Push
CHICAGO, September 26, 2003 - Buoyed by the success of its first almanac, Encyclopaedia Britannica has just published a second edition of the popular fact book for 2004.
The revised edition will arrive in stores in early October, beating other leading almanacs to the shelves by several weeks. The move signals Britannica's intention to forge ahead in the almanac market, which has seen new players come and go in recent years.
"Almanac buyers have long been ready for a new offering that's attractive, trustworthy and useful," said Britannica's president, Jorge Cauz. "That's why we did so well this year and why we’re enthusiastic about next year."
The Encyclopaedia Britannica Almanac 2003 spent several weeks on the Washington Post bestseller list, drew critical praise from reviewers and established a beachhead for Britannica in trade publishing. Cauz said this year's sell-in to the trade is well ahead of last year's, and the company forecasts increases for the next several years.
With extensive updating throughout, the 2004 almanac boasts new features and coverage of recent events, in addition to comprehensive listings in arts and entertainment, major awards, people, history, science, business and geography. The Personalities section is a valuable guide to the people behind the headlines. The almanac also features a commentary on the war in Iraq by former deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott, now president of the Brookings Institution.
The book is anything but a conventional reference work, however. It's also a smorgasbord of smart and surprising special features aimed at delighting both casual and serious readers. Under the "Britannica Greats" imprimatur, editors list the best plays and inventions of all time, the funniest movies ever made, and take an offbeat look at the Internet's best offerings.
A sprightly design, lavish illustrations, and hundreds of fascinating facts sprinkled throughout the book make it a joy to browse and explore. A subscription to Britannica GeoAnalyzer Online (http://geoanalyzer.britannica.com), an interactive database for research on the countries of the world, is included with the book.
At 1,150 pages, it runs more than a hundred pages thicker than any of its leading counterparts.
Encyclopaedia Britannica Almanac 2004 will be available in paperback at $10.95 U.S. ($14.95 Cdn) and hardcover at $19.95 U.S. ($21.95 Cdn). U.S. retailers interested in carrying the title should call Continental Sales Inc. at 847-381-6530. Canadian retailers should call Jacqueline Gross & Associates at 416-531-6737.
About Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. has been the leader in reference and education publishing since 1768. Its products include the 32-volume Encyclopaedia Britannica and yearbooks, Britannica Concise Encyclopedia and the Encyclopaedia Britannica Almanac. Britannica also has many digital products for consumers, schools, libraries and universities, including the Ultimate Reference Suite (CD-ROM/DVD) and Britannica.com (www.britannica.com). The company makes its headquarters in Chicago. More information is available at http://corporate.britannica.com.
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Contact:
Tom Panelas
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
312-347-7309
tpanelas@us.britannica.com
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