Pear's Cyclopaedia 1958 -1959: Edited by L. Mary Barker

In 1965 a young man joined the well-established 'House of Pears' as a junior partner. Thomas J. Barrett's genius for advertising made Pears Soap a household name world-wide. But he also believed in education, convinced that poverty, squalor and slums were in great measure due to ignorance and realising that massive dictionaries and encyclopaedias were beyond the reach of the general public, he decided to publish a book that contained practical everyday information with general knowledge all in one inexpensive volume. And so, Pear's Cyclopaedia came to be published at the end of the 19th century. The book grew steadily over the years and changed as new knowledge was added - until countless copies found their way into homes all over the world. Now older editions serve as fabulous historical documents in which changes to nations, borders, medical knowledge, communications and all manner of general knowledge is documented. In this, the 1958 - 1958 edition: The Wider World (Events; Prominent People; A Citizen's Guide; The Law Of England; Background to Economic Problems; The World of Science; Greek Myths and Legends); Everyday Information (Gazetteer of the World; Atlas of the World; General Information; Literary Companion; General Compendium); Home And Personal (Medical Matters and Baby Care; Family Affairs; Hygiene and Cosmetics; Cookery, Wines and Indoor Plants; Gardening; Sports and Pastimes; Radio, Television and Radar; Poultry and Pigeons; Domestic Pets and Birds). Certainly a book with something for everyone.