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Literature, English and American

Introduction

The literature collection of the General Research Division is one of the world’s largest; the secondary materials which support it are extensive enough to make possible all levels of research, from the simplest to the most complex.

The purpose of this guide is not to list every available reference source, but to suggest a few carefully selected places to begin a research project.

If you need further assistance, visit our reference desk, or e-mail us at grdref@nypl.org

This research guide is created and maintained by Robert Armitage.

Using the Library’s Online Catalog

Searches for original texts should be by title or author. A search for the author as subject might point to reference works listed under a variety of subject headings such as bibliography, biography, criticism and interpretation, etc. In the event that monographs or collections have been devoted to a specific work, there will also be a subject heading for that title. For instance, while a subject search for Steinbeck John -- Criticism and Interpretation currently yields 33 entries, a search for Grapes of Wrath as a subject will narrow the search to 13 entries. A recent subject search for Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns) -- Criticism and Interpretation indicates 146 works of general or collective criticism. Searching Waste Land, however, locates 49 titles devoted to that particular work. Once located on the Catalog, these titles can be requested in the Bill Blass Public Catalog Room and used in the Rose Main Reading Room.

Other Starting Points

For the most recent citations to be found in literary journals, it is recommended that you begin with the electronic resources available in the General Research Division, Room 315, notably the MLA International Bibliography and the Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature. From the Selected Electronic Resources menu, click the Literature and Linguistics box. This will produce a descriptive list of available databases and recommended Web sites.

Printed bibliographies can be consulted for locating sources of earlier material. For particular periods or subject areas, a good guide to reference works is the Literary research guide, 4th ed., (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2002) in *RS-NCB 02-6708. An excellent first source for locating resources dealing with individual authors is Reference works in British and American literature located in the reading room with the call number *RS-NCB 98-12290.

In addition to items from the catalog, an open-shelf browsing collection of major literary reference sources is available in the Rose Main Reading Room, Room 315, along the northeast wall. Items housed here are indicated in the Catalog with a classmark that includes the prefix *R or *RR (e.g., *R-NCB), *RS or *RB (indicating an open-shelf bibliography). This basic collection includes bibliographies, handbooks, surveys, critical studies, and a few standard scholarly editions of notable authors.

For additional information or assistance, speak to a librarian at the main reference desk in room 315, or contact us at grdref@nypl.org.

Book Reviews

Book reviews are useful for determining a book's contemporary reception. Several full-text resources for locating book reviews are available online, notably New York Times and the Times Literary Supplement. For other newspapers or periodicals in hard copy or on microfilm, check the Catalog.

  • Book Review Digest (New York: H. W. Wilson Co., 1905- ) *R-*GAA 98-1102
    Includes citations (with approximate word counts) and brief excerpts from reviews. Covers periodicals published in the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. Useful for popular fiction and nonfiction, less so for scholarly works. Annual cumulations from 1905- are available in Room 315. Current issues are in the Current Periodicals Division, Room 108. Also available electronically from 1983 to the present as part of the Selected Electronic Resource Menu.
  • EBSCOhost Research Databases [electronic resource]
    Online reference system offering a variety of databases, many featuring full-text articles. Provides access to the MLA, and is useful for locating book reviews.
  • Reiman, Donald H., comp. The Romantics reviewed; contemporary reviews of British Romantic writers. (New York, Garland Publishing, 1972), 3 v. in 9, JFF 73-251
    Features reviews published in British periodicals, 1793-1824.Contents include: pt. A. The Lake poets. 2 v. - pt. B. Byron and Regency society poets. 5 v. - pt. C. Shelley, Keats and London radical writers. 2 v. These volumes must be requested from the stacks.
  • Wellesley index to Victorian periodicals, 1824-1900 / Walter E. Houghton, ed. (Toronto, Buffalo: University of Toronto Press, c1966-c1989), 5v., *R-*D
    For each of the 43 indexed British periodicals there is a table of contents and identification of contributors, a bibliography of each contributor, and an index of pseudonyms. (Does not indicate reviews as such, unless the title of the book or books is mentioned in the article's title).

For more information on finding Book Reviews, see the online guide.

Drama (including Shakespeare resources)

General Dramatic Criticism
Shakespeare Resources

General Dramatic Criticism

  • Coleman, Arthur Drama criticism (Denver: A. Swallow, 1966-71), 2v., *RB-NAF
    Vol 1. contains a checklist of interpretations since 1940 of English and American plays. Vol. 2. contains a checklist of interpretations since 1940 of classical and continental plays.
  • Critical Survey of the Drama / Carl E. Rollyson, ed. (Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press, c2003), 2nd rev. ed., 8 v., *R-NAF 05-3840
  • Eddleman, Floyd Eugene American drama criticism: interpretations, 1890-1977, 2nd ed. (Hamden, Conn.: Shoe String Press, 1979) *RS-NBL 80-819
    References to interpretations of American plays in books, periodicals, and monographs. Arranged alphabetically by playwright, with plays alphabetical beneath the author's name. Includes index to titles. Supplement to the 2nd edition covers work through 1987.
  • Mikhail, E. H., ed. English drama, 1900-1950: a guide to information sources (Detroit : Gale Research Co., 1977) *RS-NAF 79-3669
    Divided into chapters: Bibliographies, Reference Works, Critical Books and Essays, Periodical Articles, and Individual Dramatists. Within chapters, entries are arranged alphabetically; under individual authors, they are arranged chronologically.
  • Otero, Rosalie C. Guide to American drama explication (New York : G.K. Hall, c1995) *RS-NBL 95-5084
    Lists critical interpretations published between 1942 and 1994. Arranged alphabetically by playwright, with individual plays listed alphabetically beneath.
  • Research guide to biography and criticism: world drama / Walton Beacham, ed. (Washington, D.C. : Beacham Pub., [1987], c1986). *RS-NAF 88-691
    Contains listings for British and American as well as world dramatists. Each entry contains, in addition to brief biographical and bibliographic information, an overview and evaluation of selected biographical, autobiographical, and critical sources.

Shakespeare Resources

  • Bergeron, David Moore. Shakespeare: a study and research guide, 3rd ed. rev. (Lawrence: University of Kansas, 1995) *RS-*NCI 95-6071
    An excellent guide to book-length criticism and scholarship currently (1995) available. Includes a chapter on how to prepare a research paper on a Shakespearean topic.
  • Garland Shakespeare bibliographies (New York: Garland Pub., 1980- ) *RS-*NCI 81-229
    Ongoing series surveying Shakespeare scholarship published from 1940 to the present. Each volume, covering a particular play, is fully annotated, cross-referenced, and indexed.
  • Shakespearean criticism (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1984- ) *R-NCV 84-778
    Contains critical excerpts. Useful for a broad overview of critical responses. Cumulative indexes to earlier volumes.
  • World Shakespeare Bibliography Online [electronic resource]
    International database provides more than 90,000 annotated records for all important books, articles, book reviews, dissertations, theatrical productions, reviews of productions, audiovisual materials, electronic media, and other scholarly and popular materials related to Shakespeare between 1967 and late 2003.

Fiction

Short Fiction
Long Fiction
Genre Fiction

Short Fiction

  • Columbia companion to the twentieth-century American short story / Blanche H. Gelfant, ed. (New York: Columbia University Press, 2000) *R-NBN 01-8130
    Contains thematic essays on various aspects of the short story, with selected bibliographies of representative short story collections and critical studies which can be used as a starting point for additional research.
  • Critical survey of short fiction, rev. ed. / Frank N. Magill, ed. (Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press, 1993), 7 v., *R-NAL 00-11665
    Articles on established authors of short fiction, reflecting their “development and opus, in terms of both life events and literary career”. One or more pages of critical interpretation are included for each entry. Annotated bibliographies provide possibilities for further research. The final volume contains detailed and analytic essays on the development of short fiction.
  • Facts on File companion to the American short story / edited by Abby H.P. Werlock ; assistant editor, James P. Werlock (New York : Facts on File, c2000) *R-NBN 00-8198
    Focuses on American short fiction from the 19th century to the 1990s. Contains author biographies, lists of stories and their critical reception, and selected bibliographies. Included are entries on critical theories, story locales, historical events, significant fictional protagonists, influential magazines and critics, and major short story prize awards. Among the appendices is a list of stories arranged by theme. Overview essays on particular categories of short fiction. Selected bibliography of critical histories and theoretical approaches.
  • Short story criticism (Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., c1988- ) *R-NA
    Covers short story writers of all eras and nationalities. Historical critical survey of an author’s work, arranged chronologically. Cumulative indexes.
  • Short story index. (New York: H. W. Wilson, 1953- ) *RS-NAL 87-637
    Locates works of short fiction in anthologies and in periodicals. Author, title, and subject (or theme) indexes. Entries are keyed to anthologies at the back (and in the cumulated volume Short story index: Collections Indexed 1900-1978). Since 1974, also indexes stories covered by Readers’ guide to periodical literature and Humanities index.
  • Reference guide to short fiction, 2nd edition / Thomas Riggs, ed. (Detroit : St. James Press, c1999). *R-NAL 00-8182
    Critical coverage for writers of short stories and novellas, containing biographical and bibliographic information. Includes essays on individual works of short fiction.
  • Walker, Warren S. Twentieth-century short story explication, 3rd ed. (Hamden, CT: Shoe String Press, 1993- ) *RS-NAL 88-2834
    A bibliography of interpretations that have appeared since 1900 of short fiction published since 1800. Arranged by author, then individual story, with a checklist of books and journals at the end of each volume. There is a cumulated index to the third edition and its five supplements 1961-1991 (*RS-NAL 88-3727). Continued by Twentieth-century short story explication: new series (*RS-NAL 95-126), which extends coverage through 1996.
  • Weixlmann, Joe American short fiction criticism and scholarship 1959-1977: a checklist (Chicago : Swallow Press, c1982). *RS-NAL 88-2098
    Includes critical and scholarly citations as well as interviews and bibliographies for more than 500 authors of short fiction. Includes sections on general studies for the 18th and 19th centuries, the 20th century, and general bibliographies. The predecessor of this work is: Thurston, Jarvis, Short fiction criticism; a checklist of interpretation since 1925 of stories and novelettes (American, British, Continental) 1800-1958 (Denver, A. Swallow, 1960) D-13 635.

Long Fiction

  • Columbia history of the American novel / Emory Elliott, general ed. (New York: Columbia University Press, c1991). *R-NBN 92-20
    One volume history on the development of the novel in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Includes short biographies of about 200 authors and a select bibliography of related criticism.
  • Critical survey of long fiction, 2nd rev. ed. / Carl Rollyson, ed., English edition; English and foreign language series, Frank N. Magill. (Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press, 2000), 8v., *R-NAL 00-11610
    Provides biographical details, bibliographic records, and critical overviews of major authors notable for their contributions to the novel, novella, and related long forms. Includes references for additional study. Vol. 8 contains thematic essays under the headings Long Fiction in History, World Long Fiction, North American Long Fiction, and Genre Overviews.
  • Wheeler, Kathleen A guide to twentieth-century women novelists (Oxford, UK ; Cambridge, Mass. : Blackwell Publishers, 1997) *R-NAL 97-3439
    Critical guide features an extensive bibliography of general works and criticism, related anthologies, and secondary criticism on individual novelists.

Genre Fiction

  • Burgess, Michael Reference guide to science fiction, fantasy, and horror, 2nd ed. (Westport Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 2002). *RS-NAL 03-3829
    Annotated listings of major and minor reference works in the areas of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Titles are grouped by general subject area. Each listing includes bibliographic data and a critical summation of the noted work.
  • Critical survey of mystery and detective fiction / Frank N. Magill, ed. (Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press, 1983), 4 v., *R-NAL 92-4023
    Offers surveys of noteworthy authors, including a listing of principal series, series characters, the author’s contribution to the genre, biographical information, analysis of notable works, bibliographies of works and additional resources.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Reference Indexes:

General Literary Criticism

  • ABES: Annotated Bibliography for English Studies [electronic resource]
    Covers four main subject areas: Literary Studies, Language and Linguistics, Cultural Studies, and Film Studies. Since the goal of ABES is to provide guidance on the best and most appropriate material available, each book, journal article, or video citation includes a signed, critical annotation assessing the value of the reference.
  • American literary scholarship (Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1963- ) *RB-NBB
    Selective, evaluative annual study of the year’s important scholarship, each chapter devoted to author, period, or genre. Indexed by subject and scholar. (Latest five years available in Rose Main Reading Room. Earlier volumes 1963- in JFK 98-194) Note: 1998-present are included in the full-text database, Project Muse, on the Selected Electronic Resource menu.
  • Annual bibliography of English language and literature [electronic resource]
    Included in the Literature Online database, from 1920 to the present. This source includes international coverage of articles, books, pamphlets, reviews, and dissertations on English language and literature written originally in English. Includes many works omitted by the MLA and should be used in conjunction with that source. (In the print version, the last five years are held in classmark *RS-NA 87. Earlier volumes from 1920 are in JFK 98-196.)
  • Bracken, James K. Reference works in British and American literature, 2nd ed. (Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlkimited, 1998) *RS-NCB 98-12290
    A valuable annotated resource for identifying bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, indexes, concordances and occasionally journals devoted to a broad range of British and American authors. Arrangement is alphabetical by writer. Includes author, title, and subject Indexes.

Critical Bibliography series:

  • Dictionary of literary biography (Detroit: Gale Research Co, 1978- ) *R-AB 79-1061
    Individually edited volumes, usually centered on a particular genre, type of writer, or literary period. Each essay contains biographical information, brief synopses of work, and critical estimations. Lists primary works and manuscript collections. Includes a selective list of other biographical and critical sources. Some writers will appear in multiple volumes, and the cumulative indexes should be consulted. Included in the New York Public Library’s Select Electronic Resources menu as part of the Literature Resource Center, the Dictionary of Literary Biography Online contains more than 10,000 bio-critical essays on authors and their works.

Gale Literary Criticism Series:

All Gale series contain excerpts from reviews and essays. Useful for a broad overview of critical responses. Contains cumulative indexes to earlier volumes. In addition, full indexing of all the Gale Literature Criticism series are available online as part of the Literature Resource Center (see description under Electronic Resources). Within the database, choosing Gale’s Literary Index allows searching by author, title, a combination of the two, or a customized author search by name, birth date, death date, or nationality. Selected entries on significant authors are also included in this database.

  • Harner, James L. Literary research guide, 4rd ed., (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2002) *RS-NCB 02-6708
    Excellent basic reference describing abstracts, bibliographies, indexes, databases, dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, and other sources used to study English literature.

See the New York Public Library’s “Best of the Web” page for quality Literature Web sites selected and maintained by librarians.

  • Literature Online [electronic resource]
    Searchable library of English and American poetry, prose, and drama, plus biographies, bibliographies, and secondary sources. Of particular interest as a starting point for literary research is the Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature, covering 1920 to the present. This source includes international coverage of articles, books, pamphlets, reviews, and dissertations on English language and literature written originally in English. Includes many works omitted by the MLA and should be used in conjunction with that source. (In the print version, the last five years are held in classmark *RS-NA 87. Earlier volumes from 1920 are in JFK 98-196.)
  • Literature Resource Center [electronic resource]
    Three databases in one: Contemporary Authors Online, offering biographical coverage of more than 1000 writers; Contemporary Literary Criticism Select, featuring entries on all authors appearing in CLC since vol. 95 and selected authors from previous volumes; and Dictionary of Literary Biography Online, containing more than 10,000 bio-critical essays on authors and their works. The Resource Center also features selected full-text, excerpted, and commissioned critical material from other Gale Literature Criticism series. This online resource can be accessed from home using your New York Branch Library card.
  • MLA International Bibliography [electronic resource]
    An indispensable resource since its original 1921 publication. Provides extensive international coverage of literary, linguistic, and folklore scholarship. Online access covers 1963-present. Print equivalent from 1921, with call number *RB-R.
  • Magill, Frank Northern Bibliography of literary criticism (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Salem Press, 1979), 4v., *RS-NA 80-3021
    Provides critical sources for the study of more than 2,500 works of western authors. Arranged by author, with individual works alphabetically under the author’s name.
  • Modern British literature / Laurie Di Mauro, ed., 2nd. Ed. (Detroit: Saint James Press, 2000), 3v., *R-NCB 00-7972
    Contains critical excerpts on 500 authors, including full source entries and author bibliographies.
  • New Cambridge bibliography of English literature / George Watson, ed. (Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1969-1977) 5v., *RB-NCB 73-1133
    Extensive listings through approximately 1950 of works by or about authors native to or resident in the British Isles. Each of the first four volumes covers a different literary period and contains an index of primary authors and major subjects. Cumulative index in volume five expands the scope. An excellent resource, although some familiarity with contents and arrangement is suggested for the most satisfactory results. Speak to a librarian at the main information desk if assistance is required.
  • Year’s work in English studies (London: Published for the English Association by Blackwell Publishers, 1919/20-) *RS-NCA
    This annual provides a good starting point for locating critical work. Essays by authorities in a particular period or field summarize and evaluate annual trends in scholarship and criticism. Items of interest can then by traced and requested through the library’s catalog. Arrangement is chronological. Indexed by critic, author, and subject. See also the three Critical bibliography. . .series, which are drawn from this review. Latest five years only available in the Rose Main Reading Room. Earlier volumes 1919/20- in JFL 98-309.

Poetry

Locating Poems
General Poetry Resources

Locating Poems

  • Columbia Granger's World of Poetry [electronic resource]
    Contains the full text of many classic poems, as well as quotations and anthology citations. Many of the included poems contain commentaries, bibliographies, and author biographies.
  • Poem Finder [electronic resource]
    Locates individual poems or the work of particular poets. Currently offers 750,000 indexed poems and 70,000 full-text poems. Poem Finder is international in scope and provides coverage of well-known anthologized poems, in-depth coverage and complete works of many poets, and the latest poetry in periodicals.

General Poetry Resources

  • Alexander, Harriet Semmes American and British poetry: a guide to the criticism (Athens, Ohio: Swallow Press, 1984) *RS-NAEC 84-3242
    Covers 1925-1978. Alphabetical arrangements by poet; individual poem title; authors of critical articles. Only poems of a thousand lines or less have been included. Usually only criticism of the entire poem is considered, except in a few significant cases where (P) following the citation indicates only a partial explanation.
     
  • Companion to twentieth-century poetry / Neil Roberts, ed. (Oxford; Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishers, 2001). *R-NAE 01-12024
    Substantive essays on various topics, movements, and poets in the area of twentieth-century poetry. Each essay contains a useful, select bibliography.
     
  • Gingerich, Martin E. Contemporary poetry in America and England, 1950-1975: a guide to information sources (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1983) *R-NCB 01-1221
    Highly selective, annotated bibliography of English-language studies. Divided into eight sections: bibliographies and reference works, contemporary culture and sociology, aesthetics and poetic theory, general studies of poetry and poets, general studies of American poets and literature, general studies of British poets and literature, studies of two or more poets, and listings for individual poets (roughly two-thirds are American).
  • Guide to American poetry explication (Boston, Mass.: G. K. Hall, 1989), 2v., *RS-NBH 01-1222
    Vol. 1 Colonial and Nineteenth Century; Vol. 2 Modern and Contemporary. Set lists extensive bibliographic sources, including articles, books, and interviews covering a single poet. Poets are listed alphabetically by last name; under author headings are lists of particular works; and under poem titles, article citations are arranged by the critics' last names. Coverage is through 1987.
  • Martinez, Nancy C. Guide to British poetry explication (Boston: G. K. Hall, 1991-1995), 4v., *RS-NCI 91-5938
    Vol. 1 Old English – Medieval; Vol. 2 Renaissance; Vol. 3 Restoration – Romantic; Vol. 4 Victorian - Contemporary. The arrangement of this work is similar to the Guide to American poetry explication. Coverage extends through 1992.
  • New Cambridge bibliography of English literature / George Watson, ed. (Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1969-1977) 5v., *RB-NCB 73-1133
    Provides the best single list of modern poetry studies through approximately 1950. Each volume represents a different literary period; each period is then divided into categories such as poetry, the novel, drama, prose, etc. The poetry section is further split into general works and individual poets, and both parts are then more extensively subdivided into bibliographies, primary works, secondary materials, etc. Consult the index volume (vol. 5) for the most complete coverage. The work can be supplemented by Guide to British poetry explication, vol. 4, and Contemporary poetry in England and America, 1950-1975.
  • Poetry criticism (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1991- ) *R-NAEC 91-344
    Contains extracts from selected critical articles. Indexing available through the cumulative index in the latest volume of Contemporary literary criticism (*R-NAD 74-319), or the Contemporary authors (*RR-AB) cumulative index.
Subjects: 
Language and Literature
English and American Literature
Libraries: 
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Literature, English and American

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