Selected reference works

Dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories and yearbooks are useful for definitions of terms and for brief factual information. The following is a selection of resources held by the Monash library, please search the catalogue for additional works.

General works

• A handbook to literature
• Dictionary of literary terms and literary theory
• Encyclopedia of world literature in the 20^th century
• Handbook of Literary Research
• Literary research guide : an annotated listing of reference sources in English literary studies
• A reference guide to English, American and Canadian literature
• A reference guide for English studies
• Research in critical theory since 1965 : a classified bibliography
• The writers directory
• other dictionaries and encyclopedias
• Gale Literary Series (including: Contemporary Authors, Contemporary Literary Theory, Literary Theory from 1400-1800, Twentieth Century Literary criticism) is indexed in the Literary Index

English literature

• Bloomsbury guide to English literature
• Oxford companion to English literature
• Index to British Literary Bibliographies
• Cambridge guide to literature in English

Australian literature

• Australian literature to 1900: a guide to information sources
• Australian literary criticism an annotated bibliography
• Bibliography of Australian literature
• Bibliography of Australian literature project: list of Australian writers 1788-1992
• Black Australian literature
• Dictionary of Australian theatre 1788-1914
• Oxford companion to Australian literature
• Oxford history of Australian literature
• Oxford literary history of Australia

American literature

• American bibliography: a chronological dictionary of all books, pamphlets...
• Bibliography of American literature
• Oxford companion to American literature

Biography

• American national biography online (links to DNB where authors are represented in both publications)
• Contemporary authors
• Oxford dictionary of national biography online (DNB)
• Who's who of Australian writers
• Who's who of Australian children's writers
• Women writers and Australia: a bibliography of fiction

Children's literature

• Continuum encyclopedia of children's literature
• International companion encyclopedia of children's literature
• Oxford companion to Australian children's literature

Check the catalogue for other reference works covering poetry, theatre, literary periods, individual authors etc.

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