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Resources for locating information on World Literature
Carrier Library,
James Madison University
Updated August 2002
This guide is meant to assist researchers in locating
biographical information on world authors as well as critical information on
their work. Consult a reference
librarian for assistance in locating and using these resources.
HANDBOOKS AND ENCYCLOPEDIAS
Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century
ed. by Steven R. Serafin. Farmington
Hills, MI: St. James Press, c1999. (Ref PN771 .E5 1999)
This 4-volume set provides a good introduction to a
national literature or to an author from any country. Bibliographies are
included.
Encyclopedia of the Novel ed. by Paul Schellinger.
Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, c1998.
(Ref PN41 .E53 1998 v.1-2.)
Provides essays on novels and novelists.
Provides useful overviews on world literature.
International Dictionary of Theatre ed. by Mark
Hawkins-Dady. Chicago: St. James Press, 1992.
(Ref PN2000 .I47 1992)
This 3-volume set (1. Plays -- 2. Playwrights -- 3. Actors,
directors and designers) includes brief essays about authors and plays.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Biography and Genealogy Master Index.
Detroit : Gale Research, Inc., 1995-
Online.
This database (BGMI) is an excellent place to begin a
search for biographical information. Indexes over 500 biographical sources,
making it easy to know which sources to consult. Check LEO for local holdings.
Contemporary Authors. Detroit, MI : Gale Research.
1967-
(In print form at Ref PN451 .C6, online in Literature Resource Center
International in scope, this tool gives biographical
information about contemporary authors and lists their works. In the print
version, consult the separate index volume to locate entries on specific
writers. Indexed by BGMI.
Dictionary of Literary Biography. Detroit: Gale,
1978-
(Ref PN451 D28)
This multi-volume work provides chapter length biographical
essays. The most recent volume includes a comprehensive index to the set.
A well-known, reliable source.
Also indexed by BGMI.
Use these sources to find book length biographies:
LEO: Books about a particular author can
be found in LEO under the author's name as a subject heading.
Use the same approach to search VIRGO and WorldCAT
for books that can be obtained through Interlibrary Loan.
CRITICISM
The books listed below are reference books that give brief general criticism of writers. These are useful for general criticism of an individual author.
European Writers ed. by William Jackson. New York:
Scribner's, 1983-. 14 vols.
(Ref PN501 E9 1983)
Chapter length essays about European Writers from the
Middle Ages to mid 20th Century.
Latin American Writers ed. by Carlos Sale. New York:
Scribner, 1989. 3 vols.
(Ref PQ7081 A1 L37 1989)
Lengthy entries that provide biographical information and
critical bibliographies.
B. BOOKS OF CRITICISM
Literary criticism in books from the stacks (and Reference)
can be found by doing a subject search in LEO, Virgo, or WorldCAT under headings
such as the following:
(Author's Name) - Criticism and Interpretation
(Author's Name) - Style
C. BIBLIOGRAPHIES OF CRITICISM
The following bibliographies will lead you to literary
criticism in books, articles, and essays. These bibliographies are particularly
useful if you need criticism of a specific author or novel.
English Language Criticism on the Foreign Novel by Harriet
Semmes Alexander. Athens : Swallow Press, 1989
(Ref PN3335 .A5 1989)
Literary Criticism Index by Alan Weiner and Spencer Means.
London: Scarecrow Press,
1994.
(Ref PN523.W455 1994)
An excellent sources for locating criticism on a specific
piece of literature. Consult the
annotated pages in the front for the call numbers of cited works.
Modern Drama Scholarship and Criticism 1966-1980: An
International Bibliography by Charles Carpenter. Toronto: University of Toronto
Press, 1986. Supplemented by Modern Drama Scholarship and Criticism 1981-1990. (Ref PN1851 C27)
The best source of criticism for international drama. Also
covers American drama very well. The bibliography is supplemented in the journal
Modern Drama. Includes books and journal articles.
D. INDEXES TO CRITICISM
The indexes below can be used to find general or background
information, literary criticism of a particular period or genre, criticism of an
individual author or work, and biographical information.
MLA International Bibliography. Online 1924 to present, updated annually.
(Formerly PMLA Bibliography 1921-1968, available in print in Reference.)
Available online.
Indexes critical materials on literatures, languages,
linguistics, and folklore. Provides
access to citations from worldwide publications, including journals, books,
dissertations, and conference proceedings.
Check LEO for local holdings of cited items.
BOOK REVIEWS
Most novels are reviewed shortly after they are published.
The following sources will lead you to reviews in popular magazines as well as
scholarly journals and newspapers.
Book Review Index. 1965-
(Table 3)
Cites reviews in periodicals.
This bibliography was originally created by Lynn Cameron and Rebecca Feind. Last Updated Spring 2004.
Questions? Contact the Reference Desk.
