The Literature Book

Using infographics to detail 4,000 years' worth of literary history and development in chronological order, this resource is divided into seven sections, from 3000 BCE to the present, including Heroes and Legends: 3000 BCE-1300 CE; Romanticism and the Rise of the Novel: 1800–1855; and Depicting Real Life: 1855–1900. More than 100 major works are discussed, with additional titles representative of each literary period listed as suggested reading. Articles are brief and easy to understand, spanning one to four pages in length. Most entries provide an author's biography. Although the introduction states that the literature discussed is "global," the majority of the works are American or European. The content and tone seem well suited as preparatory handouts to high school English classes; however, when searching for analysis, historical context, or writer backgrounds, librarians might find Gale's Something About the Author Online or "Twayne's Masterwork Studies" series to be more beneficial.