为便于读者更细致深入地了解西方文明，本书编撰者参考了大量的西方史料，广泛取材重点选编，将1200多条常见典故收录、编辑成了这本《你应该了解的1200个西方典故大全集》。本书涉及范围包括古希腊、古罗马，美国、英国、德国等诸多西方国家，囊括了政治、军事、法律、经济、科技、教育、医学、等多个方面。全书总计约二十五万字，信息量较大，为便于读者参考阅读，特以字母索引为准。每条目细经考证与修订，分为"溯源"与"释义"两部分，清楚介绍了每别典故的由来与含义，其行文活泼有趣，说理言简意赅，是读者认知、探究西方文明的必选读本。To facilitate deeper and more nuanced understanding of Western civilization among readers, the compiler of this book, referring to a vast volume of western historical records, selected and included more than 1,200 common allusions on a wide range of themes in this book. It covers the politics, military affairs, laws, economy, science and technology, education, medicine, among other things, of western countries including ancient Greece, Roman Empire, the United States, the UK and Germany. With a large volume of information presented in about a total of 250,000 Chinese words, this book contains an index in alphabetical order to facilitate reference during reading by readers. Each item, researched and revised, comprises two parts, i.e. "origin" and "definition", which clearly introduces the origin and meaning of each item. Lively and funning in writing and concise in reasoning, it is a must choice for readers who want to understand and explore Western civilization.