MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers:
View available copies.


Books

To find books of criticism about an author, do a subject search for the author's name in the library catalog.  Enter the search, last name first. You may leave out commas and periods:

dickinson emily
austen jane
eliot t s

Examine your results for helpful subject subdivisions (subheadings), such as Criticism and interpretation, History and criticism, and Bibliography.

Examples of ways in which these subject search elements can be combined:

Morrison, Toni - Criticism and interpretation
Shakespeare, William, 1569-1616 - Sonnets
Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 - Bibliography

It's also possible to search for the title of a work as a subject, such as Moby Dick or Things Fall Apart.

Ways to focus your search can include:

Original language of the work (Spanish, English, German ...)
Literary form (drama, poetry, fiction ...)
Time period (medieval, 18th century ...)
Author characteristics, such as:

Nationality (American essays ...)
Gender (Feminist literary criticism ...)
Geographic location (Caribbean drama ...)
Ethnicity (Slavic literature ...)

To find critical articles about a work or an author, try a search for the author name and/or work title in our databases:

Print literary criticism resources

The OHS Library Reference Collection contains many multi-volume series of literary criticism, and their comprehensive indexes make them good starting places for research.

However, the most convenient way to locate an author or title is to search Gale's Literary Index online.
You can search by Author, Titles, Birth Date, Death Date, or Nationality.

Other suggestions

If you're researching a particular author, try browsing the general stacks in the appropriate call number area.  Works by the author are shelved first, followed by biographies, criticism and interpretation, and bibliographies about the author.

Literary Criticism Collection
Internet Public Library site provides links to online critical and biographical information about authors and their works -- browseable by author, title, or literary period.

Literary Resources on the Net
Comprehensive, searchable collection of websites related to literature and the humanities. Compiled by Rutgers University Professor Jack Lynch.

Lit Links
Annotated links explain what type of information about a literary work, its author, or period can be found on each site.  Organized alphabetically by author within the genres of critical theory, drama, essays, fiction, and poetry.  Sponsored by Bedford/St. Martin's.

Voice of the Shuttle: Web Page for Humanities Research
A must-visit site with extensive literature resources.