Information sources in English Literature

I. Books and Audiovisuals II Periodical Resources A. Electronic Indexes and Full-Text Collections B. Print Indexes, Abstracts and Bibliographies III. Reference Materials A. Bio-Critical Works i.Gale Literary Publications ii. Other Bio-Critical Publications B. Literature Reviews and Analyses C. Dictionaries D. Encyclopedias E. Other Reference Sources IV. Microforms V. Government Publications VI. Web Resources VII. Course Information VIII. Help from the Library I. Books & Audiovisuals Use tomCat (the U of M Library catalog). For subject searches, use Library of Congress Subject Headings such as english literature 18th century or heroes in literature .(LC Subject Headings volumes are available in Reference.) Also try searching by keywords such as trollope criticism or characters chaucer (Leave out words like in, of, on, and the; AND is assumed between words.) For books about individual writers, use the writer's name as a subject; e.g., trollope anthony . For author bibliographies, search by subject keywords; e.g., shakespeare bibliography . For video tapes, use the term "videorecording" as a keyword; e.g. chaucer videorecording. Copy the call number from the catalog record to find the book. (See How to Find Books.) netLibrary [UM Only] A collection of over 46,000 electronic books in various disciplines. Some of these items may be available in print as well as electronically. II. Periodical Resources A. Electronic Indexes and Full-Text Collections Use an electronic database. These are recommended. Other periodical databases are listed on Periodical Databases by Adademic Area. For help finding articles try How to Find Articles in Periodicals and refer to How to find Print Periodicals for help locating the articles you've found. If the periodical is available electronically, you will find a link to it from the electronic journals list. Contemporary Literary Criticism - Select [UM Only] Reference material includes: biographical, bibliographical, critical, and contextual information on authors and their works. Each CLC--Select entry contains a biographical/critical introduction, listing of principal works and sources for further study. This general citation is last in list of citations. The foundation of the database is built on three literary criticism sources by the Gale Group: Contemporary Authors, Contemporary Literary Criticism, and Dictionary of Literary Biography. Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers [UM Only] 25 best selling authors included. Focuses on the works, analyzing the writer's craft and tying the author's background and life story as an influence of the works. Humanities Full Text (citations, abstracts, full text).[UM Only] Indexes periodicals in archaeology, art, classics, film, folklore, journalism, linguistics, music, the performing arts, philosophy, religion, world history, and world literature. Coverage: citations & abstracts, 1984- ; full text, 1995- JSTOR (full text archive) [UM Only] Indexes and stores back issues of eleven critical literature journals, including Shakespeare Quarterly. Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [UM Only] Provides full text of many magazines and newspapers, including The Commercial Appeal since 1990. Good for book reviews and articles about authors. Literature Resource Center (LRC) [UM Only] Literature Resource Center provides full text access to biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses of authors from all ages and literary disciplines. More than 120,000 novelists, poets, essayists, and journalists are covered. The 2,500 most-studies authors are covered in-depth. MLA International Bibliography (periodicals and books chapters, 1963 - ) [UM Only] Indexes 4,000 periodicals covering literature, languages, linguistics, and folklore. Now includes information from MLA Directory of Periodicals. Oxford English Dictionary [UM Only] The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. The OED covers words from across the English-speaking world, from North America, South Africa, from Australia and New Zealand to the Caribbean. It also offers the best in etymological analysis, listings of variant spellings, and shows pronunciation using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Project Muse (Full-text)[UM Only] Provides electronic full text of more than 200 scholarly journals in arts and humanities, social sciences, and mathematics. Studies in Irish Literature [UM Only] Covers more than 1,300 Irish novelists, playwrights, humorists, politicians and publishers. What Do I Read Next?[UM Only] Featuring more than 80,000 recommended titles, What Do I Read Next? Online includes author biographies and recommendations on classic, mainstream or genre fiction and nonfiction titles covering a wide range of subjects. Search by title, author, subject, full text, time period, geographic location, character and reading level. Other Databases: These databases provide coverage on a wide range of subjects and may be useful in your research. Electronic Journals Service (EJS) [UM Only] Electronic journals service available through a common interface for online journal subscriptions. Search, browse, and identify journals and articles available online in either full-text or table-of-content format. Hyperlinks are provided to more than 1,300 electronic journals worldwide. Expanded Academic Index (1980-) [UM Only] Indexes about 1,900 magazines, journals, and the NY Times newspaper. Most have abstracts, and about 900 are full text. IngentaConnect [Open Access] Formerly Uncover. Browse the publication list or search tables of contents to over 17,000 periodicals; period of coverage varies. Provides document delivery service. Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe [UM Only] Provides full text of many magazines and newspapers, including The Commercial Appeal since 1990. Oxford Reference Online [UM Only] The Oxford Reference Online Premium collection is an online collection of dictionaries and encyclopedias in many fields including: art & architecture, bilingual dictionaries, biological science, classics, computing, earth & environmental sciences, economics & business, English dictionaries and thesauruses, English language reference, food & drink, history, law, literature, maps & illustrations, military history, mythology & folklore, names & places, performing arts, physical sciences & mathematics, politics & social sciences, quotations, religion & philosophy, and science. PowerSearch [UM Only] Searches the 12 InfoTrac databases simultaneously. Web of Knowledge Resources specific to the Humanities on WoK include Arts & Humanities Citation Index, Current Contents Connect for Arts & Humanities, ISI Proceedings for Social Science and the Humanities. Wilson Omnifile Mega Full Text [UM Only] Provides access to eleven databases: Education , General Science , Humanities , Readers' Guide , Social Sciences, Wilson Business , Art, Applied Science & Technology, Index to Legal Periodicals, Library Literature & Information Science, Biological & Agricultural. Search databases individually, in selected groups, or all at once. WorldCat [UM Only] Records of any type of material cataloged by OCLC member libraries, including books, periodicals, audiovisual materials, and websites. Contains manuscripts written as early as the 12th century. B. Print Indexes, Abstracts, and Bibliographies Abstracts of English Studies (1958-1991) [Reference Abstract Shelves] American and British Poetry: A Guide to the Criticism, 1925-78;1979-90 [Reference Desk] Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature (1920-1996) [Ref Z2011.M69] Articles on Twentieth Century Literature: An Annotated Bibliography [Reference Desk] Arts & Humanities Citation Index (1976-2002) [Reference Index Tables] Bibliographies on Frequently Assigned Literary Works & Authors [Reference Desk] - These bibliographies were created by Reference Librarian Harriet Alexandar specifically for users of our library. She lists only those works that are available and includes the locations with the citations. Bibliography of British Literary Bibliographies (6 vols.)[Ref Z2011.A1H68] A Bibliography of Publications on Old English Literature to the End of 1972 [Ref PR173.G7x 1980] Biography Index (1946-1996) [Reference Index Tables] Biography and Genealogy Master Index (3 sets of cumulative vols.) [Ref Index Tables] Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (5 vols.)[Ref Z2011.B3] The New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (5 vols.)[Ref Z2011.N45] A Concise Bibliography for Students of English, 5th ed. [Ref Z2011.K35 1972] A Critical Bibliography of Twentieth-century Literature Studies (4 vols.) [Ref PR471.C74x 1998] - A new series which summarizes and chronologically rearranges articles which have appeared in The Year’s Work in English Studies from 1954 through 1994. Index of authors and subjects treated is in Vol 4. Critical Survey of Poetry [Ref PR502.C85] Critical Survey of Drama [Ref PR623.C75] Critical Survey of Long Fiction (8 vols.)[Ref PR821.C7 1983] Critical Survey of Short Fiction (8 vols.)[Ref PN3321.C7] Drama Criticism [Reference Desk] The English Novel [Reference Desk] English Literature 1660-1800: a Bibliography of Modern Studies (1926-1970) (6 vols.)[Ref Z2011.E6] English Prose, Prose Fiction, and Criticism to 1660 [Ref Z2014.P795H45] English Prose and Criticism in the Nineteenth Century [Ref Z2014.P795W54] English Drama to 1660 [Ref Z2014.D7P46] English Theatrical Literature 1559-1900: A Bibliography [Ref Z2014.D7A74] European Drama Criticism [Reference Desk] Guide to Poetry Explication [Reference Desk] Humanities Index (1974-1996) [Reference Index Tables] (Now AHSearch online) Modern Language Association Bibliography (MLA) (1921-1994) [Reference Index Tables] Oxford Chronology of English Literature (2 vols.) [Ref PR87.O95 2002] The Seventeenth Century: Bacon Through Marvell [Ref Z2012.B27] A Student's Guide to British Literature [Ref Z2011.D53] Twentieth-Century Short Story Explication 3rd ed. and 5 supplements, 1900-1988 [Reference Desk] Twentieth-Century Short Story Explication, New Series, 1989-1990 [Reference Desk (PN3373)] The Year's Work in English Studies [PE58.E6] Critical surveys of studies published in books and periodicals. III. Reference Materials A. Bio-Critical Works i. Gale Literary Publications Gale Literary Index is a comprehensive web index to most of the bio-critical reference sources listed below. This web index points to the relevant print volumes and allows you to search by title of work, author's name, birth date, death date or nationality. This web index points you to the relevant print volumes and allows you to search by title of work, author's name, birth date, death date or nationality. Please note: The web version does not cover all the material in the print volumes. Dictionary of Literary Biography (DLB) [Ref PS21.D54x] multiple volumes. A good place to begin for an overall perspective. Contains substantive articles about each author and his or her work, photographs, and a bibliography for further reading. Each volume specializes in a genre and time period. Use cumulative author index at end of the last volume. Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC) [Ref PN771.C59] multiple volumes. Use for authors who are living or who have died since 1959. Cumulative author, title, and topic index is at the end of the last volume in the set. A separate cumlative title index is on a shelf nearby. Contains excerpts from articles and books and full citations for further reading. Volumes 95+ also available on the web. Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism (TCLC) [Ref PN771.G27] - Authors who died between 1900 and 1959. Same format as CLC. Nineteenth-Century Literary Criticism (NCLC) [Ref PN761.N5] Authors who died between 1800 and 1899. Same format as CLC. Literature Criticism (LC) [Ref PN86.L56] Authors who died between 1400 and 1800. Same format as CLC. Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism (CMLC) [Ref PN610.C53) Authors who died before 1400. Same format as CLC. Poetry Criticism (PC) [Ref PN1010.P499] Poets. Same format as CLC. Short Story Criticism (SSC) [Ref PN3321.S5x] Same format as CLC. ii. Other Bio-Critical Publications Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers Literature in Context Studies in Irish Literature British Writers (7 vols, 5 supplements, index) [Ref PR85.B688] The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors (Moulton, 1935 ed.) (8 vols.) [Ref PR83.M73] Moulton's Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors: Through the Beginning of the Twentieth Century . Abridged and revised ed. (4 vols.) [Ref PR473.T4] Shakespeare for Students [Ref PR2987.S468 1997] B. Literature Reviews and Analyses Book Review Digest (1905-) [Reference Index Tables] Book Review Index (1946-) [Reference Index Tables] Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Scholarly Journals 1886-1974 (15 vols.) [Reference Index Tables] Magill's Literary Annual (1977-1999) [Ref PN44.M35 2000] - Essay reviews of books published during the year. Cumulative indexes at end of last volume. New York Times Book Review Archive (1996- ) Masterplots II: Poetry Series (6 vols, 3 suppl.) [Ref PN1110.5.M37] Masterplots II: Short Story Series (6 vols., 4 suppl.) [Ref PN3326.M27] Masterplots II: Women's Literature Series. (6 vols.) [Ref PN471.M37 1995] C. Dictionaries The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English [Ref PR85.C29 1988] A Dictionary of Literary Pseudonyms in the English Language, 2nd ed. [Ref Z1065.C37 2000] A Dictionary of Literary Symbols [Ref PN56.S9F47 1999] Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 11,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins [Ref Z1041.R66 2004] Dictionary of National Biography (22 vols., 9 suppl.)[Ref DA28.D4] D. Encyclopedias Cyclopedia of Literary Characters (5 vols.) [Ref PN44.M3 1998] Encyclopedia of the Romantic Era: 1760-1850 (2 vols.) [Ref NX452.5.R64 E53 2004] Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature [Online, UM Only] Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature [Online, UM Only] E. Other Reference Sources The Cambridge History of English Literature (15 vols.) [Ref PR83.C22] Characters in 20th Century Literature, 2nd ed. [Ref PN56.4.H37] Chronological Outlines of English Literature [Ref PR87.R85 1968] Contemporary Authors [Ref Z1224.C62x] Separate author index on shelf nearby. Cyclopedia of Literary Characters (5 vols.) [Ref PN44.M3 1998] Essay and General Literature Index (1900 - ) [Reference Index Tables] - Indexes articles and essays contained in books. A Handbook to Literature, 7th ed [Reference Desk: PN41.H355 1996] A History of English Drama 1660-1900 (6 vols.)[Ref PR625.N52 1952] The History of the English Novel (10 vols.)[Ref PR821.B3] A Literary Atlas and Gazetteer of the British Isles [Ref PR109.H25] A Literary History of England, 2nd ed. (4 vols.)[Ref {R83.B3] Literary Research Guide: A Guide to Reference Sources for the Study of Literatures in English and Related Topics, 2nd ed. [Ref Z2011.H34 1993] Location Register of English Literary Manuscripts and Letters (2 vols.) [Ref Z6611.L7L625 1995] Longman Companion to English Literature [Ref PR85.G45] Masterplots, Rev. 2nd ed. (12 vols.) [Ref PN44.M33 1996] Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series (4 vols.) [Ref PR881.M39 1987] Oxford Chronology of English Literature (2 vols.) [Ref PR87.O95 2002] Oxford Companion to English Literature [Ref PR19.D73 2000] Oxford Companion to Irish Literature [Ref PR8706.O88 1996] Shakespeare's Characters for Students [Ref PR2989.S53 1997] Survey of British Poetry (4 vols.)[Ref PR1175.S87 1988] Theses in English Literature [Ref Z2011.H58x] Who’s Who in Shakespeare [Ref PR2989.Q4 2002] World Authors, 1990-1995 [Ref PN771.W675 1999] IV. Microform Collections The Microforms Collection on the second floor of McWherter Library contains several collections of materials useful for study and research in early English Literature. A card catalog in the Microforms area can help you identify materials. The microform area is now self-serve, but if you need assistance, ask the staff at the Periodicals Desk. The following collections have separate indexes/guides to help you locate specific items. Library of English Literature (LEL) [Microforms. Ultrafiche. Unclassified] - Covers Beowulf to 1900. ultrafiche. Paper guide: The Microbook Library of English Literature, Author and Title Catalog [Micro. Z2011.L73] Early English Books [Microforms. Microfilm] - Over 27,000 books printed in England, Scotland and Ireland between 1475 and 1700. Separate guides: Pollard and Redgrave's A Short-Title Catalogue of Books...1475-1640 [Ref Z2002.P77 1976];Wing's "Short-Title Catalogue of Books...1641-1700 [Ref Z2002.W52]; Accessing Early English Books, 1641-1700 [Mico Z2002.U586 1981]; Early English Books, 1475-1640 [Micro PR1121.B6x] Early British Periodicals [Microforms] - Over 160 periodicals, 18th and 19th centuries. Separate guide with subject, title, editor indexes. English Literary Periodical Series [Microfilm] - About 341 titles published in Great Britain in 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Separate guide. V. Government Publications Publications related to English literature issued by federal and Tennessee state agencies are available online and in the Government Publications Department on the first floor of McWherter Library. Staff in the department will assist you in finding and using both electronic and print materials produced by various federal and state agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Arts or the Library of Congress. You can also get information through their web page at http://exlibris.memphis.edu/resource/unclesam.html VI. Web Resources You may want to explore web sites using various internet resources or, if you have them, specific URLs. [See Robert Harris's Internet Search Tips and Strategies ] The web sites listed below are examples of the various types of information available via the Internet. Literary Resources on the Net The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: An Encyclopedia in Eighteen Volumes (1907- 1921) Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse (The University of Michigan) Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies: Electronic Resources for Research (The University of Toronto) Shakespeare Resources (The University of Virginia's Electronic Text Center) Eighteenth-Century Resources (Rutgers University) Romantic Chronology (The University of California, Santa Barbara) Jane Austen Information Page Victorian Web British and Irish Authors Internet Public Library Online Literary Criticism Collection Contemporary Postcolonial and Postimperial Literature in English Research and Documentation in the Electronic Age VII. Course Information Guide to research in McWherter Library VIII. Help from the Library Still can't find what you're looking for? Try Ask A Librarian For additional assistance, you may contact the liaison librarian for Literature: Kay Cunningham Phone: 901.678.4345 Email: lkcnnngh@memphis.edu Related Research Guides American Literature | African American Literature | Language and Linguistics Top of Page | Research Resources | Instruction | Reference Department | University Libraries | The University of Memphis Updated December 8, 2004