Applied linguistics embodies a kaleidoscope of disciplines, theoretical approaches, researchparadigms, and beliefs about practice. Its diversity is reflected in this festschrifthonoring Henry Widdowson. The volume contains the contributions of 27 authors from fivecontinents and, like the honoree's own body of work, represents a wide range of topics. Intheir introductory chapter, the editors outline the disciplines they have chosen to include:assessment, corpus linguistics, discourse analysis, language teaching, literature, second languageacquisition, and the relationship among theory, research, and practice. As this list reveals, otherareas of applied linguistics are notably absent: first language literacy, language planning andpolicy, and translation, among others. Omissions are no doubt necessary in order to compile avolume of manageable size; in spite of these omissions, readers will find the contributionsabsorbing and take pleasure in tracing thematic threads throughout. A sampling of major themesis outlined here.