Literature

Entries by more than 200 authorities covering all of British literature.

A comprehensive dictionary that covers the plays, poems, characters and background to Shakespeare's works. Also includes terms used in the theatre and stagecraft, as well as historical references and details on the Elizabethan historical and social period.

Reviews current knowledge of the character and operation of theatres in Shakespeare's time, with an explanation of their origins. Coverage includes the practices of Elizabethan actors and script writers: methods of characterization; gesture, blocking and choreography, including music, dance and fighting; actors' rhetorical interaction with audiences; and use of costumes, stage props, and make-up.

Concise overview of Charles Dickens's life; Charles Dickens's and the English language; Charles Dickens's works; and synopses of Dickens's novels.

Concise overview of Jane Austen's life, Jane Austen and the English language, Jane Austen's works; and synopses of Jane Austen's major novels.

Concise overview of Shakespeare's life; Shakespeare and the English language; Shakespeare's works; Shakespeare's works in summary; and Shakespearean terms.

Provides precise definitions of terms and concepts in literary theory, along with explanations of the major movements and figures in literary and cultural theory and an extensive bibliography.

Offers a comprehensive guide to the history and development of feminist literary criticism and a lively reassessment of the main issues and authors in the field.

Comprehensive encyclopedia covering Literary Theory from 1900 to 1966, Literary Theory from 1966 to the present, and Cultural Theory. Provides accessible entries on the important concepts, theorists and trends in post-1900 literary and cultural theory. With explanations of complex terms and important theoretical concepts, and summaries of the work and ideas of key figures, it is a highly informative reference work for a multi-disciplinary readership.

Presents original essays on the essential terms and concepts of the field. From Aesthetics to Young Adult, an impressive, multidisciplinary cast of scholars explores the vocabulary central to the study of children's literature.

Thousands of authoritative and accessible entries on every aspect of children's literature, covering authors, illustrators, works, characters, genres, and much more. From Mark Haddon to Harry Potter, Raymond Briggs to Maurice Sendak, and Douglas Adams to The Gruffalo.

A curated set of educational videos covering topics of importance in History, the Humanities and Literature.

From vampires and demons to ghosts and zombies, interest in monsters in literature, film, and popular culture has never been stronger. This concise Encyclopedia provides scholars and students with a comprehensive and authoritative A-Z of monsters throughout the ages. It is the first major reference book on monsters for the scholarly market.

The fascinating story behind titles including quotations, allusions, and odd or bizarre or otherwise intriguing titles.

Devoted exclusively to the history, culture, mythology and language of the island of Ireland, its 5000 A to Z entries include Celtic gods and goddesses, bards, beasts, literary allusions, proverbial sayings, idiomatic phrases and expressions, characters from Irish literature ancient and modern, resonant place-names, and individuals and events of 'iconic' stature in Irish history. A significant number of entries relate to contemporary Irish life and culture.

Provides an invaluable guide to the wealth of characters created by writers in English.

Explains and illustrates the literary symbols that we all frequently encounter (such as swan, rose, moon, gold), and gives hundreds of cross-references and quotations.

Covers writers, illustrators, works, characters, countries, and related topics such as film, television, art, the oral tradition, advertising, feminism, and much more.

Hundreds of detailed entries provide coverage on modern poets writing in English.

Includes over tens of thousands of quotations for all occasions, from Ancient Egypt to the 21st century.

A comprehensive reference work dealing with all aspects of poetry: its history, types, movements, prosody, and critical terminology.

Drawn from the latest edition of the acclaimed Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics, this provides an authoritative guide to the most important terms in the study of poetry and literature.

Provides a comprehensive and authoritative survey of the history and practice of poetry in major regional, national, and diasporic literatures and language traditions around the globe.

In the age of globalization, the category of "World Literature" is increasingly important to academic teaching and research. This text offers a comprehensive pathway into this burgeoning and popular field.

Provides an overview of the main themes, issues, and critical perspectives that have had the greatest effect on postcolonial literatures.