The Children's Encyclopedia made me what I am. I devoured it, all ten volumes, cover to cover, from the age of about seven onwards. Looking back, there was an awful lot of God-squaddery in it, but that didn't rub off as I was being thoroughly indoctrinated by Catholicism anyway. There was also a lot of the Great British Empire saving Darkest Africa, but, somehow, that eluded me too. It was definitely a tome of its time. But it was beautifully pitched at children and it imbued a sense of wonder and an enthusiasm for knowledge. Interesting man was Arthur. I raise a glass to him, in spite of his inveterate temperance!