Quakers, Diggers, Levellers, and Pilgrims have at least one thing in common. They are all Puritans, a religious group not covered extensively in the reference genre least, not until now. The Historical Dictionary of the Puritans is the product of a theologian and an English professor, which is not an unlikely collaboration considering the weighty influence of Puritan literature in the English-speaking world. Like most volumes in the Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements series, the Puritans volume is well focused and concise. Those less familiar with Puritanism will appreciate the thorough introduction (20 pages) that precedes the A Z portion of the dictionary. A very readable chronology accompanies the introduction, with a concluding date of 1758 e supposed demise of classical Puritanism. The dictionary concludes in typical Scarecrow Press fashion with an impressive bibliography (more than 40 pages). This bibliography is divided into 39 categories, including denominations, themes, and major figures, to name a few. The heart of the dictionary is its alphabetically arranged treatment of virtually everything Puritan, most especially its personalities. Notables like John Bunyan, John Milton, and William Penn are among the more than 240 individuals profiled. Many of the biographical entries are devoted to obscure figures not found in standard reference works like The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3d ed., 2006). Puritan subgroups like the Brownists, Muggletonians, and Ranters are also profiled, and significant events or landmarks from Puritan history are represented as well. A typical entry is at least 2 or 3 full paragraphs. Boldface cross-references are prolific throughout the volume, allowing users to make easy use of all related entries. There is no index, although this may not be a major concern for a compact volume such as this. Public and academic libraries that aim for a well-rounded religious collection will greatly appreciate the way this dictionary fills a niche.