Each volume of the Dictionary of World Biography contains 250 entries on the lives of the individuals who shaped their times and left their mark on world history. This is not a who's who. Instead, each entry provides an in-depth essay on the life and career of the individual concerned. Essays commence with a quick reference section that provides basic facts on the individual's life and achievements. The extended biography places the life and works of the individual within an historical context, and the summary at the end of each essay provides a synopsis of the individual's place in history. All entries conclude with a fully annotated bibliography.

Volume 1: The Ancient World
Volume 2: The Middle Ages
Volume 3: The Renaissance
Volume 4: The 17th and 18th Centuries
Volume 5: The 19th Century A-K
Volume 6: The 19th Century L-Z
Volume 7: The 20th Century A-Gl
Volume 8: The 20th Century Go-N
Volume 9: The 20th Century O-Z
Volume 10: Index