Finalists for the 1992-1993 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes : HISTORY

NEW WORLDS, ANCIENT TEXTS: The Power of Tradition and the Shock of Discovery by Anthony Grafton (Harvard University Press/Belknap Press). A thoroughly engrossing and artistically presented account of how European cultural foundations of the Renaissance period were profoundly shaken by the realization that their traditionally held views of the New World were at odds with reality. The voices and arguments echo through the centuries in lively, authentic dialogue that reflects the extent to which European intellectuals and explorers felt threatened by the idea that their conception of the world could be incomplete and even wrong.

The Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalists and winners are selected in each category by an independent panel of judges. Winners will be announced in the Book Review issue of October 31.