Printer Friendly VersionNovels and Novelists
This guide is meant to assist researchers in locating biographical information on novelists and critical information on novels. Consult a reference librarian for assistance in locating and using these resources.
Table of Contents:
Use these sources to find definitions of literary terms, brief biographical information, identification of characters and places, and general discussions of literary schools and movements.
Holman, C. Hugh, and William Harmon. A Handbook to Literature. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN41 .H355 2003]
A dictionary of literary terms with a useful outline of English and American literary history.
Murphy, Bruce, ed. Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia. 4th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN41 .B4 1996]
A handy one-volume reference to identification of writers, summaries of specific works and definitions of literary terms. Covers all periods of world literature. Useful for tracking down literary allusions.
Hart, James, ed. The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 6th ed. New York: Oxford UP, 1995.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS21 .H3 1995]
Gives biographical information and summaries of works, defines terms, and gives a chronological listing of literary and social history side by side in the appendix.
Drabble, Margaret, ed. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. 6th ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2006.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR19 .O94 2006]
Useful for identification of proper names, titles, allusions, and terms.
Magill, Frank, ed. Cyclopedia of Literary Characters. 5 vols. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 1998.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN44 .M3 1998]
Information about thousands of literary characters from 3,300 titles, including epics, dramas, and novels from all countries and periods. Arrangement is by the title of the work with characters listed and described in order of diminishing importance.
Serafin, Steven R., ed. Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century. 4 vols. Farmington Hills, MI: St. James Press, 1999.
[Carrier Library - Reference - 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.
Schellinger, Paul, ed. Encyclopedia of the Novel. 2 vols. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1998.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN41 .E53 1998]
Provides essays on novels and novelists and useful overviews on world literature.
Use these sources to find biographical essays:
Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Detroit: Gale, 1995-.
This database 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: Gale, 1967-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN451 .C6 & Online Resource]
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.
Henderson, Lesley, ed. Contemporary Novelists. Chicago: St. James, 1996.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR883 .V55 1996]
Brief biographical information, author bibliographies, and critical essays. Includes international authors.
Garraty, John A. and Mark C. Carnes, eds. American National Biography. 24 vols. New York: Oxford, 1999.
[Carrier Library - Reference - CT213 .A68 1999 & Online Resource]
A reliable source for biographical information on people who have contributed significantly to the history and culture of America.
Dictionary of Literary Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1978-
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN451 D28 & Online Resource]
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. Dictionary of National Biography ed. by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee. London: Oxford, 1917-.
Dictionary of National Biography. 60 vols. London: Oxford, 1917-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - DA28 .D4 & Online Resource]
The standard source for British biography from earliest times to about 2002.
Use these sources to find book length biographies:
LEO Library Catalog
Books about a particular author can be found in LEO under the author's name as a subject heading. For example, choose Subject and type Faulkner William to find books about William Faulkner.
Use the same approach to search VIRGO and WorldCAT for books that can be obtained through Interlibrary Loan.
A. Reference Books Containing 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.
Ungar, Leonard, ed. American Writers. New York: Scriber's 1974-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS129 .A55]
Critical essays about the lives and works of American writers. Lists each author's works as well as critical studies about the author.
Scott-Kilvert, Ian, ed. British Writers. New York: Scribner, 1979-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR85 .B688]
Critical essays about the lives and works of British authors. Includes checklist of writings as well as critical studies.
Jackson, William, ed. European Writers. 14 vols. New York: Scribner's, 1983-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN501 E9 1983]
Chapter length essays about European Writers from the Middle Ages to mid 20th Century.
Sale, Carlos, ed. Latin American Writers. 3 vols. New York: Scribner, 1989.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PQ7081 A1 L37 1989]
Lengthy entries that provide biographical information and critical bibliographies.
Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism. Detroit: Gale, 1988-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN681.5 .C57]
Provides lengthy introductions to authors from antiquity to the 14th Century. Includes excerpts of criticism.
Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800. Detroit: Gale, 1984-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN86 .L53]
Significant passages of literary criticism on authors who died between 1400 and 1800.
Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Detroit: Gale, 1981-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN761 N5 1981]
Presents significant passages from published criticism on authors who lived between 1800 and 1900.
Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Detroit: Gale, 1978-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN771 .G27]
Excerpts from criticism of the works of writers, 1900-1960. Use the last volume as an index to the whole set.
Contemporary Literary Criticism. Detroit: Gale, 1973-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN771 .C59]
Contains excerpts from criticism of the works of authors active from 1960 to the present.
B. LEO Library Catalog
Literary criticism in books from the stacks (and Reference) can be found by doing a subject search under headings such as the following:
(Author's Name) - Criticism and Interpretation
(Author's Name) - Style
Novelists, American - 20th Century - History and Criticism
Novelists, English - 19th Century - History and Criticism
Fiction - 18th Century - History and Criticism
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.
Gerstenberger, Donna, and George Hendrick. The American Novel: A Checklist of Twentieth-Century Criticism. 2 vols. Denver: Alan Swallow, 1961-1970.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS379 .G47]
Includes criticism of individual authors and works and criticism of the American novel as a genre. Volume I covers criticism from 1789-1959; volume II covers criticism from 1960-1968.
Glitsch, Catherine. American Novel Explication 1991-1995. North Haven, CT: Shoe String Press, 1998.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS371 .G55 1998]
Provides access to recent criticism of American novels. Indexes books and journals.
Adelman, Irving. The Contemporary Novel: A Checklist of Critical Literature on the English Language Novel since 1945. London: Scarecrow, 1997.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS379 .A34 1997]
Indexes criticism on English language novels. Organized by author. Very useful for locating criticism on specific novels.
Bell, Inglis F., and Donald Baird. The English Novel 1578-1956: A Checklist of Twentieth Century Criticisms. Denver: Swallow, 1958.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR881 .B35]
Indexes critical articles and books about individual English novels. Arrangement is alphabetical by author and then by individual titles.
Palmer, Helen. English Novel Explication: Criticisms to 1972. Hamden, CT: Shoe String Press, 1973.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN3365 .P35]
This update to Bell and Baird's bibliographies is additionally updated by supplements. The most recent supplement is 1997.
Additional bibliographies of criticism:
Leary, Lewis, comp. Articles on American Literature 1900-1950. Durham, NC: Duke UP, 1954.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS88 L39]
This source is particularly good for finding criticism about individual authors. There are also editions for 1950-1967 and 1968-1975.
Schwartz, Narda Lacey. Articles on Women Writer's: A Bibliography. 2 vols. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1977-1986.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR111 S37]
Lists articles about over 600 women writers. The two volumes cite works published between 1960 and 1984.
Stanton, Robert J. A Bibliography of Modern British Novelists. Troy, NY: Whitston, 1978.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR884 .S74]
Covers 17 British writers including William Golding, Doris Lessing, and C.P. Snow. Includes a listing of each author's works and both general criticism and studies and reviews of individual works.
Werner, Craig Hansen. Black American Women Novelists: An Annotated Bibliography. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 1989.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PS153.N5 W42 1989]
Kearney, E.I., and L.S. Fitzgerald. The Continental Novel: A Checklist of Criticism in English 1900-1966. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1968.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN3451 K42]
Lists criticism of French, Spanish, Italian, German, Scandinavian, and Russian novels.
Alexander, Harriet Semmes. English Language Criticism on the Foreign Novel. Athens: Swallow Press, 1989.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PN3335 .A5 1989]
Watson, George, ed. The New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1969-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - PR83 .N48 1969]
The most comprehensive bibliography available for English literature. Includes citations to both primary and secondary materials.
Studies in the Novel. Denton, TX: North Texas State U, 1969-.
[Carrier Library - Bound & Current Periodicals]
This journal has an annual bibliography of criticism about the novel in each winter issue.
Note: An entire bibliography may have been done on one particular author. These may be shelved in Reference and in the stacks. To find author bibliographies, do a subject search in LEO using the following subject heading:
(Author's Name) - Bibliography
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.
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. Detroit: Gale, 1965-.
[Carrier Library - Reference - Index Table 3]
Cites reviews in periodicals.
Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Scholarly Journals, 1886-1974. Arlington, VA: Carrollton Press, 1979-1982
[Carrier Library - Reference - Index Table 3]
An Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities. Williamston, MI: Phillip Thompson, 1960-1990.
[Carrier Library - Reference - Index Table 3]
Covers around 700 journals in the humanities. Very good coverage of literature.
Compiled by Lynn Cameron and Rebecca Feind
Maintained and updated by Melissa S. Van Vuuren, April 25, 2007.
Questions? Contact the library reference desk.
