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:

Critical bibliography of American literature studies (Oxford, UK; Malden, Mass: Published for the English Association by Blackwell, 1998), 4v., *RS-NA 98-10908

Critical bibliography of twentieth-century literature studies (Oxford, UK; Malden, Mass: Published for the English Association by Blackwell, 1998), 4v., *RS-NA 98-1097

Critical bibliography of English language studies (Oxford, UK; Malden, Mass: Published for the English Association by Blackwell, 1998), 3v., *RS-NCA 98-11901

Conveniently arranged surveys drawn from Year’s work in English studies, each series providing coverage for a particular field of study.

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:

Black literature criticism / James P. Draper, ed. (Detroit: Gale Research 1992), 3v., *R-NA

Classical and medieval literature criticism (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1988- ) *R-NRA 86-2117

Contemporary literary criticism (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1973- ) *R-NAD 74-319

Literature criticism from 1400-1800 / Dennis Pupard, ed. (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1984- ) *R-NAD 90-12950

Nineteenth-century literature criticism (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1981- ) *R-NAD 87-2337

Poetry criticism (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1991- ) *R-NAEC 91-344

Shakespearean criticism (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1984- ) *R-NCV 84-778

Short story criticism (Detroit: Gale Reseach Co., 1988- ) *R-NA 90-73

Twentieth-century literary criticism (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1978- ) *R-NAD 78-762

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.

Internet Sites [electronic resource]

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.

Walker, William S. Twentieth-century short story explication: new series; with checklists of books and journals used (Hamden, CT: Shoe String Press, 1993- ) *R-NAL 88-3727

Bibliography of articles, books, and monographs. Authors listed alphabetically, then individual story titles arranged alphabetically with critical works.

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.