?Less a biographical dictionary than a collection of essays on some 275 individuals, including important figures from the 19th century and a few from the New Left, most of them (about 75 percent) born between 1870 and 1920 and prominent in the major left wing organizations of the first half of the 20th century. ... The essays, some quite long, treat both individuals and the history of the parties to which they belonged. Some 50 scholars contributed, with about 40 percent of the essays written by Johnpoll and Klehr. Appendixes categorize individuals by major radical party affiliation, birthplace, birthdate, and ethnic origin, and list those who abandoned the left. The index includes individuals, organizations, and periodicals. ... Recommended for academic libraries.?-Choice