Bermuda is to get its first comprehensive history book by the end of the year, thanks to the Bank of Bermuda Foundation.

The book, which is being funded with a "substantial" sum of money from the Foundation, is being written by Rose Jones and an editorial review committee, chaired by historian Clarence Maxwell, is in place to ensure accuracy and objectivity.

Overseeing the project is the Millennium Committee, which was set up by an Act of Parliament in March 1998. Millennium committee chairman Jay Bluck said the book project is the last one the body will be involved in before it ceases to exist next year. Neither Mr. Bluck nor David Lang of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation would say how much the publication is expected to cost.

"Until the book is published I cannot give you any figures," he said. Mr. Lang said the figures involved were "substantial".

He added that any money left over will be used to set up a scholarship fund for arts students at the Bermuda College. The book will be an extension of six half hour television programmes on Bermuda's history produced by the Millennium Committee. Mr. Bluck described the project as "quite a serious one", which would meet the Millennium Fund's criteria of leaving a "lasting legacy" for future generations.

"There isn't a single comprehensive book on the history of Bermuda. It fills a serious gap."

Mr. Lang echoed similar sentiments. "There are lots and lots of books but nothing that's all encompassing of Bermuda's history."

Rather than it being an "intellectual tome", he added, the publication was envisioned as a coffee table book with lots of pictures, timelines and personal commentary.

"I think it's the heart of the project, more important than a quickie video," Mr. Lang said.

He explained that Panatel film and video production company, which had been contracted by the Millennium Committee to make the television series, had proposed the book project and subcontracted the writing, editing and design to Brimstone Media, a local multimedia publishing and communications company owned by Rose Jones and Paul Shapiro.

Ms Jones said that the project, which started last year, was almost completed.

"It's a people focused history, for the people of Bermuda, about the people of Bermuda," she said. "As journalists we are interested in people and their stories. Journalism is living history and that's our approach."

She said one of the book's most interesting features will be sidebars of stories told in the first person.

"A lot of these stories are about ordinary people or events that were extraordinary but which happened to ordinary people. I think that makes it interesting as well - especially for young people."