This database includes critical essays on contemporary authors, lives and careers of authors of all eras and genres, biographies and bibliographies on tens of thousands of contemporary authors. Also includes information about classic authors and literary classics.
In addition to the main database, there is also:
- Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature - Find encyclopedic articles on authors and literary works by clicking the button located in the upper right corner of the Literature Resource Center page when it appears.
- Gale's Literary Index - You can use this to determine where certain authors or literary works are located in Gale's databases or literary criticism/reference collections in print (which we have a number of at the library). Button is located next to the Encyclopedia of Literature (described above).
>> Please click here to access Literature Resource Center.
Tips & Special Features:
This database starts off in an Author search mode. Other search modes include:
- Title
- Keyword
- Authors by Type (including genres and themes they wrote about)
- Literary-Historical Timeline
- and Advanced.
The Advanced search mode allows you to search more specifically and by more than one category of information. For example, you can search by part of an author's name (if you do not know her or his complete name), search by a critic's name, search by title, or search for words in the individual articles.
While in the "Advanced" mode you can also limit your search results by "Document Types" (such as essays, definitions, interviews, or websites) and by "Database" (such as Contemporary Authors, Full-Text Journals, or the Dictionary of Literary Biography).
For Further Exploration...
Please visit our Reference Department, call us at 1-845-341-5461, or ask a librarian.
Technical Considerations: