Mapping the Reference Maze

Roland Barthes once said, "Literature is without proofs. By which it must be understood that it cannot prove not only what it says, but even that it is worth the trouble of saying it." Many frustrated students mired in T.S. Eliot's Waste Land or trying to understand why Dante sentenced Brutus to the worst level in Hell might agree. Overwhelmed collection development librarians trying to select from the seemingly endless and similar series of literature reference sources would concur.

The field of literature is vast and complex, encompassing the entire body of writings (poetry, drama, novels, short stories, essays) of a particular people, language, culture, and time. Owing to this enormous complexity, public and college librarians need to determine carefully the focus and scope of their reference collections. Supporting a specialized comparative literature program requires a wide array of research materials; supporting high school and community college students writing term papers on The Scarlet Letter can limit the need to several accessible resources.

This article will concentrate primarily on the vast American and British literature reference, with an emphasis on the novel. Other forms, such as poetry and drama, and individual canonical authors like Shakespeare merit more thorough treatment in separate articles.

A typical core collection will include general dictionaries and encyclopedias, histories and overviews, guides and companions, titles on literary criticism, and biographical resources. For academic libraries supporting scholarly research, guides and companions to various authors and specific novels, which often circulate because of their essay format that offers close readings, are essential to a reference collection. Publishers such as Gale, Greenwood, and Oxford University and Cambridge University presses issue a wide range of this type of series. Literary criticism is another key area that should not be overlooked by academic and larger public libraries because literary theory drives most readings of texts and because requests like "I need to find out what realism means" are all too common at the reference desk.

Small libraries or those on tight budgets should collect one or two ready-reference guides such as Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia (HarperCollins) and such overview "Companions" as Oxford's on American and English literature or the Cambridge Guide to Literature in English, along with one series supporting close reading such as Twayne's "Masterworks" series or Gale's "Novels for Students." Larger libraries can expand by adding author-specific A–Z guides and as many aids to close reading as the budget allows. Public libraries with large demand and academic libraries should also add surveys of national literatures, various thematic guides, and titles that offer more in-depth treatment of literary criticism.

Literature reference does not age quickly, thus it is one of the few subject areas that does not need frequent weeding. These books are usually expensive and should be kept as long as they are in usable condition, for years or even decades. The publication of new critical interpretations will not render older volumes inaccurate or outdated. Likewise, it usually takes about three to five years before a new author is considered mainstream enough to warrant an entry in a major reference. Thus, resources like A Handbook to Literature (Prentice Hall), for example, need only be updated every five to ten years.

In a nutshell, weeding should be based on the physical condition of the book rather than its age unless it is time for an update. Then, if space allows, consider keeping previous editions, as old entries are often removed to make room for new ones. Titles like Gale's Dictionary of Literary Biography should never be weeded because their value lies precisely in owning the entire set.

Like print reference, subscription-based electronic resources need careful consideration since they are varied and uniformly expensive. This list includes two of the most useful resources on the subject. Free web sites may serve as supplements but cannot replace those that are subscription-based. A few of interest are Literary Resources on the Net (newark.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Lit), which is geared toward academics and breaks content into time periods; Bibliomania (www.bibliomania.com), which has full-text information on book summaries, author biographies, and study guides; and Bartleby.com (www.bartleby.com), which provides access to a variety of full-text references such as the Columbia Encyclopedia.

Starred (*) titles are strongly recommended for all collections.

*Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia. 4th ed. HarperCollins. 1996. 1144p. 0-06-270110-X. $50.
Perhaps the most well-known general reference to world literature, this is an essential resource for all types of information. It includes a wealth of biographical data, summaries of novels and plays, descriptions of characters and mythological figures, definitions of literary terms, explanations of literary movements, information on various genres, and discussions of influences.

A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms. Facts On File. 1999. 360p. ed. by Edward Quinn. 0-8160-3232-7. $49.50.
This general literary dictionary is geared toward high school students and general readers. In addition to basic definitions of terms, it covers common themes in literature such as love, death, alienation, and time. Literary schools are treated with just enough depth to offer a basic understanding of the major tenets.

*A Handbook to Literature. 9th ed. Prentice Hall. 2002. 633p. ed. by C. Hugh Holman. 0-13-097998-8. $50.
Often referred to simply as "Holman's Handbook," this classic dictionary is suitable for all libraries, from middle to graduate school. Although previous editions are still usable, this ninth edition is a significant update, featuring about 100 new entries. An A–Z listing provides definitions of literary terms, schools, genres, and terminology used in literary criticism, literary history, and critical reading.

*"Backgrounds to English Literature" series. ea. vol: Facts On File. 2003. 96p. $30.
The titles in this new series cover large swaths of literary time. Fully illustrated with color images and laden with sidebars and inserted sections, the works cover historical, social, and cultural aspects of English literature in various eras [e.g., the Renaissance (0-8160-5126-7); the Romantics (0-8160-5128-3); the Victorians (0-8160-5127-5); the Modernists (0-8160-5129-1); and the Post-War era (0-8160-5130-5)]. Each tackles topics from a variety of fields, notably social and religious movements, political leaders, art and architecture, scientific discoveries, etc. The layout is somewhat disjointed, but the content is solid, and the appeal of the images will be a big draw to public library patrons.

A Brief History of English Literature. Palgrave. 2002. 353p. ed. by John Peck & Martin Coyle. 0-333-79176-2. $87.95.
Covering a huge time span, from Anglo Saxon writing until the present day, this work provides a narrative view of the history of British literature. Arranged chronologically, it focuses on how literature both reflects and challenges the period in which it is written. In comparison to other historical summaries, this title has a strong focus on actual texts.

The Columbia History of the British Novel. Columbia Univ. 1994. 1064p. ed. by John Richetti. 0-231-07858-7. $89.
Part of the "Columbia Literary Histories" series—on a wide range of national literatures from Japan, China, etc.—this title covers the British novel from its birth in the 18th century to the present day. Like all other titles in the series, it is arranged by time period and consists of long, academic essays on the development of literature from historical, political, and social perspectives. While it does not include a great deal of critical commentary, it does require some close reading. Useful for research.

Encyclopedia of the Novel. 2 vols. Fitzroy Dearborn. 1998. 1613p. ed. by Paul Schellinger. 1-57958-015-7. $295.
Similar to the "Columbia Literary Histories" series, this set treats the development of the novel from its beginning to today. In an A–Z format, it highlights the most influential novelists from various countries (e.g., Henry James, Gabriel García Márquez, Xiao Hong, and Aleksander Pushkin) and discusses the cultural and political conditions that have affected the development of this popular literary form. Although academic by nature, this resource is suitable for all libraries.

Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events That Influenced Them. 5 vols. Gale. 1997. 2375p. ed. by Joyce Moss & George Wilson. 0-7876-0606-5. $450.
This set—organized chronologically from ancient times until today and then alphabetically by title—places various literary art forms (e.g., novels, poems, plays) in context. Essays include an introduction to the period of the setting and a synopsis of the work. A great resource for large public and academic libraries. [The international version of this reference, World Literature and Its Times, offers the same type of information on world literature in five geographic volumes: Latin American Literature (0-7876-3726-2), African Literature (0-7876-3727-0), British and Irish Literature (2 vols. 0-7876-3728-9; 0-7876-3729-7), and Spanish and Portuguese Literature (0-7876-3730-0).]

*"Cambridge Companions." ea. vol: Cambridge Univ. 1972–. 210–400p. $20–$24.
This series roughly comprises over 80 titles, each focusing on an author or movement, which range from Chaucer (0-521-89467-0) and Keats (0-521-65839-X) to 18th-century poetry (0-521-65885-3) and Greek tragedy (0-521-42351-1). In addition to providing biographical information, the books cover the authors' major works and the historical and cultural conditions of their time. The essays are written by well-known scholars in the field, such as Duncan Wu, Christopher Innes, and Lucy Newlyn. Most appropriate for undergraduates and advanced high school students.

*"Cambridge Guides." ea. vol: Cambridge Univ. 1972–. 330–1300p. $20–$75.
These bedrock texts are for all reference collections. Featuring an A–Z format that is similar to that of the Oxford guides, they include a wide range of entries on writers, characters, movements, and background summaries of literary topics. These introductory texts are most suitable for identification purposes but can also assist in preliminary research. Included are illustrations of authors, book jackets, signatures, posters, and places. Titles include Literature in English (0-521-44086-6), Fiction in English (0-521-57617-2), Women's Writing in English (0-521-66813-1), and Theater (0-521-43437-8).

"Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers." ea. vol: Greenwood. 1997–. 140–200p. $34.95.
This 50-plus-title series offers biographical introductions to various present-day authors, placing their work in the context of contemporary literature. Each title includes a lengthy plot summary, a detailed examination of the work's structure and perspective, and character analysis. Authors include Tom Wolfe (0-313-31383-0), John Grisham (0-313-29637-5), Maya Angelou (0-313-30325-8), Ernest J. Gaines (0-313-30286-3), and John Irving (0-313-30222-7).

*"Literary A to Z." ea. vol: Facts On File. 1990–. 220–320p. $55–$65.
Similar to "Oxford's Reader's Companions," this 15-title series provides thorough overviews of works, including a chapter-by-chapter synopsis, a publication history, major writers/reviewers, and biographical information. Each guide—subtitled The Essential Reference to [His/Her or Their] Life and Work—is illustrated with black-and-white images of people, places, paintings, and portraits. Although critical interpretation is omitted, there is a wealth of information on characters, locations, and themes. Authors covered include the Brontës (0-8160-4302-7), Charles Dickens (0-8160-2905-9), Herman Melville (0-8160-3851-1), James Joyce (0-8160-2904-0), and Thomas Hardy (0-8160-4289-6).

*Novels for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Novels. 17 vols. ea. vol: Gale. 1997–. 350p. ed. by Diane Tulgen. $83.
This wonderful one-stop resource provides analyses of the most studied novels, covering about 50 works in each volume. Twenty-page entries include an introduction to each novel and its author, along with a summary and a guide to major characters. The volumes are produced on a coverage-on-demand principle, i.e., each new edition expands to cover the literature added to curricula. Gale's similar titles include the 18-volume Poetry for Students, the 17-volume Drama for Students, the 18-volume Short Stories for Students, the two-volume Epics for Students, and the three-volume Shakespeare for Students .

*"Oxford Companions." ea. vol: Oxford Univ. 1927–. 600–1200p. $24.95– $75.
Most comparable to the "Cambridge Guides," the "Oxford Companions" include longer entries and special essays of literary topics, such as ghost stories and biographies. The only real difference is the omission of illustrations in this series. Topics covered include American literature (0-19-506548-4), English literature (0-19-866244-0), African American literature (0-19-506510-7), classical literature (0-19-866121-5), and fairy tales (0-19-860509-9).

*"Oxford Reader's Companions." ea. vol: Oxford Univ. 1990–. 400–700p. $16.95–$55.
Scholarly in style, these companions illuminate the social and political issues that influence the themes in various works of literature. Unlike the encompassing "Oxford Companions," these illustrated guides illuminate only one writer and his or her world. Entries range from several paragraphs to a page in length and cover the writing of the novel, the publication history, the social and political context, as well as the plot, characters, and themes. Authors covered include Charles Dickens (0-19-866213-0), George Eliot (0-19-860422-X), Joseph Conrad (0-19-860421-1), and Thomas Hardy (0-19-860419-X).

"Reference Guides to Literature." ea. vol: Greenwood. 2002–. 170–250p. $49.95–$54.95.
Titles in this scholarly series focus on influential works of literature, discussing at length contexts, ideas, critical reception, major themes, and style. There is also an overview of the author's life, plot summary, publication history, and a bibliography. Novels covered include Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms (0-313-31702-X), James Joyce's Ulysses (0-313-31625-2), John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (0-313-31837-9), and Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary (0-313-31916-2).

"Thematic Guides." ea. vol: Greenwood. 2000–. 290–310p. $44.95–$64.95.
Titles in this series for students highlight the themes that appear in various works of literature (e.g., novels, drama, short stories, and poetry). Each theme is explored through several different works to illuminate its usage. Thematic Guide to the American Novel (0-313-31194-3), for example, covers 150 commonly taught novels in American schools (e.g., Catch-22, The Great Gatsby, The Color Purple, The Catcher in the Rye), guiding readers through such topics as immigrant life, alienation, betrayal, courage, duty, greed, etc. Other titles focus on American poetry (0-313-31462-4), British poetry (0-313-31379-2), modern drama (0-313-31950-2), and popular short stories (0-313-31897-2).

*Twayne's "Authors" series. ea. vol: Twayne. 1986–. 150–220p. $34.
This colossal series is divided into three subseries: "English Authors" (57 titles), "United States Authors" (90 titles), and "World Authors" (51 titles), each consisting of volumes that offer a critical reading and evaluation of various works of literature. Also provided is a short biography of each author, historical background, and aids for additional study. Written in a clear and accessible manner, these are ideal for middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. Authors covered in the United States series include Alice Walker (0-8057-7642-7) and Jack London (0-8057-4033-3); in the English series, Jane Austen (0-8057-7014-3) and Lord Byron (0-8057-7065-8; and from the world series, Isabel Allende (0-8057-1689-0).

*Twayne's "Masterworks" series. ea. vol: Twayne. 1965–. 100–160p. $19– $31.
This superb series, encompassing close to 50 scholarly titles, should be a core part of any collection, for students and general readers. With an emphasis on historical context and critical reception, each title highlights a work of literature and provides a close reading of the text. Titles include Anna Karenina: The Bitterness of Ecstasy (0-8057-8083-1), The Catcher in the Rye: Innocence Under Pressure (0-8057-8028-9), A Farewell to Arms: The War of the Words (0-8057-8052-1), The Hobbit: A Journey into Maturity (0-8057-8806-9), and Leaves of Grass: America's Lyric-Epic of Self and Democracy (0-8057-8089-0).

*Greenwood's "Student Companions." ea. vol: Greenwood. 1999–. 130–180p. $29.95–$35.
These academic companions review the most studied authors in U.S. high schools and colleges. Each title consists of an opening biographical chapter that relates the author's life to his or her work and chapters on literary influences, character development, themes, literary style, and historical setting. Authors covered include F. Scott Fitzgerald (0-313-30594-3), Nathaniel Hawthorne (0-313-30595-1), Arthur Miller (0-313-30949-3), Richard Wright (0-313-30909-4), and Charlotte and Emily Brontë (0-313-31053-X).

A Glossary of Contemporary Literary Theory. Hodder Arnold. 2001. 416p. ed. by Jeremy Hawthorn. 0-340-76195-4. pap. $22.95.
This is an A–Z glossary of terms used in literary criticism. Each description is detailed enough to afford a basic understanding of each school of thought. While academic in nature, this handy resource is useful for advanced high school students as well.

*Encyclopedia of Contemporary Literary Theory: Approaches, Scholars, Terms. Univ. of Toronto. 1993. 656p. ed. by Irena R. Makaryk. 0-8020-6860-X. pap. $39.95.
This source is most suitable for undergraduate and graduate literature students. The first of three main sections surveys the various schools, the methods used in applying the theory, and major theorists and the history of each theory. The second is devoted to biographical entries on major literary critics and provides both primary and secondary reading lists. The third part is a glossary of terms.

Gale's "Literary Criticism" series. ea. vol: Gale. 1973–. 460–485p. $125–$180.
Most of the books from this colossal series, which consists of a few subseries on a range of subjects or periods [e.g., short story (60 titles), poetry (47 titles), drama (20 titles), classic and medieval literature (59 titles), 19th-century (124 titles), 20th-century (134 titles), and contemporary (173 titles)], feature the same format. Each collects and excerpts criticism on an author's major work or oeuvre. The lengthy entries include some biographical content and a useful introduction to the work discussed. Each work is arranged alphabetically by writer, and each series includes a varying number of authors in each volume (ranging from four to 16). Some series, such as "Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism," include topical volumes as well, which highlight varying aspects of literature, literary movements, major themes, genres, and more.

*The John Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism. John Hopkins. 1993. 775p. ed. by Michael Groden & Martin Kreiswirth. 0-8018-4560-2. $69.95.
Designed primarily for students needing a rudimentary overview of literary theory, this essential title contains 200 signed entries on each school of criticism and important historical figures, ranging from Plato and Aristotle to the modern critics. Ideal for university libraries.

Reader's Guide to Literature in English. Fitzroy Dearborn. 1996. 1010p. ed. by Mark Hawkins-Dady. 1-884964-20-6. $145.
This annotated bibliography, which covers English-language and world authors, critical theory, literary movements, styles, and more, presents a solid overview of the subject. In an A–Z arrangement, it provides abstracts on selected works of criticism, history, or biography of authors (e.g., Robert Frost), critics (e.g., F.R. Leavis), genres (e.g., poetry), movements (e.g., utopian literature), or national literatures (e.g., Scottish literature).

American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies. 13 vols. Scribner. 1997. 2496p. ed. by Jay Parini. 0-684-80586-3. $1610.
This 13-volume series provides lengthy and detailed literary biographies of major American authors (e.g., Robert Frost, Sinclair Lewis, Jack London, Amy Lowell, James Agee, T.S. Eliot). Each entry is about 20 pages long and consists of a biocritical essay that interweaves the author's life with his or her work. A similar 11-volume series focuses on British writers (0-684-80587-1).

"Dictionary of Literary Biography." 281 titles. ea. vol: Gale. 1978–. 475– 500p. $190.
The DLB has two different formats: yearbooks and subject topic volumes. The yearbooks survey the year's literary events and new and updated entries in the DLB series. The topic collections are subject-based and serve as independent volumes that can be purchased via standing order or as single titles by topic. Each volume consists of well-wrought and instructive author entries, roughly five pages in length, that provide biographical insight and a review of the author's works. Titles include American Poets Since World War II (0-8103-0924-6) and British Prose Writers, 1660–1800 (0-8103-4581-1).

Gale Literature Resource Center
www.galegroup.com
This database draws upon many of Gale's print titles and makes them available in a cohesive and easily searched database. It can be augmented by integrated subscriptions to Twayne's "Authors," Scribner's "Writers," and MLA International Bibliography. Both full-text and selected content are available, but this is not a cover-to-cover transfer of the print resources. Entries include biographical information, literary criticism, articles, overviews of works, bibliographies, added resources, and a literary/historical time line.

Modern Language Association's International Bibliography
www.mla.org
The MLA database consists of 1.6 million citations on a wide range of topics of literature, language, folklore, linguistics, and similar subjects. It includes citations from more than 3000 journals and to books, conference proceedings, working papers, and dissertations. The content dates from 1963 and is available on four platforms (Gale, OCLC, EBSCO, and Ovid).