The Oxford Companion to English Literature - Margaret Drabble (Editor)

Advantages: Comprehensive, good reference material
Disadvantages: Expensive

The first 'Oxford Companion to English Literature' was published in 1932 under the editorial direction of Sir Paul Harvey (no relation the American radio commentator). Half a century and five editions later, this is still a standard, authoritative reference work necessary for scholars and interested non-experts alike. Under the editorship of Margaret Drabble, author and biographer (known for 'The Witch of Exmoor' and the more recently published 'The ...
...widest possible context while exploring the deep classical and continental connections that underpin much of the history. How can literature be divorced from cultural context? Surely it cannot be -- hence the newest entries into the edition include topics that read as if they were taken from today's best-seller shelf: - Anglo-Indian Literature - Simon Armitage - Kate Atkinson - Louis de Bernieres - Censorship - Ben Elton - Gay and lesbian literature ... Read review

Advantages: A very comprehensive overview
Disadvantages: Sometimes not detailed enough

...been updated on several occasions. The main focus of the alphabetical listing is writers and their major works. Writers of course include authors, playwrights and poets. Shakespeare is afforded two and a half pages, which must be one of the longest entries. (Milton's is comparable.) Within the entry for any writer, an asterisk next to the title of a work or the name of another writer indicates a separate entry where more detail can be found. So, ...
...are entries for example on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, war poetry, the literature of food and major characters of works. I have come across the composer Delius and the painter Gainsborough, as well as various pseudonyms. Even theatres are included here, as are libraries, both academic and public. I have used this book with a pupil as young as twelve, who comes to me for one-to-one tuition. He was recently asked to find out what connections certain ... Read review

Advantages: Wonderful resource
Disadvantages: none

The Oxford Companion to English Literature is a weighty tome. But there's no fat! No, sir! Every ounce of the weight of this book is pure literary muscle! The book was first published in 1932, edited by Sir Paul Harvey, and the current edition is edited by the author Margaret Drabble. The book is an invaluable companion to anyone who has an interest in English, be it professional or amateur. The design of the book is simple to follow, with each ...
...etc. As well as the main body of the book there is also a chronology which lists principal literary works alongside "other events." With this we can see that when Barclay wrote his famous Ship of Fools, King Henry VIII was on the throne. There is also a list of poets laureate from Ben Johnson right through to Andrew Motion and a further list, which covers all major literary awards since 1900. Nobel Prize for literature, the Library Association ... Read review