English: Reference Works
Resources for English Studies
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
- Dictionary of Old English: A to Le This link opens in a new windowThe Dictionary of Old English (DOE) defines the vocabulary of the first six centuries (C.E. 600-1150) of the English language. An essential electronic reference for all scholars of Old and Middle English.
- Dictionary of Old English Web Corpus This link opens in a new windowbased on a computerized Corpus comprising at least one copy of each text surviving in Old English
- Middle English Compendium This link opens in a new windowcontains three Middle English electronic resources: the Middle English Dictionary, a Bibliography of Middle English prose and verse, and a Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse.
- Oxford English Dictionary (OED) This link opens in a new windowentries contain detailed etymological analysis, and are illustrated by quotations from a wide range of English language sources from around the world, making the OED a unique historical record. Updated quarterly
- The Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature This link opens in a new windowStarted in 2015 [...] the project has quickly grown to host over 400 articles by renowned writers, critics, and scholars from all over the globe. [...] the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature aims to map, over time, the world's entire landscape of literary expressions and criticism, weaving together the various fields and approaches that make up literature in its broadest sense. [...] Peer-reviewed and frequently updated, articles have the opportunity to feature a wide array of multimedia resources, including audio-visual materials, links to digital archives, and other pedagogical tools
Biographical sources
- Dictionary of Irish Biography Online This link opens in a new windowThe Dictionary of Irish Biography, a collaborative project between Cambridge University Press and the Royal Irish Academy, is the most comprehensive and authoritative biographical dictionary yet published for Ireland. It contains over 9,000 signed biographical articles which describe and assess the careers of subjects in all fields of endeavour, including politics, law, religion, literature, journalism, architecture, painting, music, the stage, science, medicine, engineering, entertainment and sport.
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography This link opens in a new windowa database of men and women who have shaped British history and culture, worldwide, from the Romans to the 21st century. Over 58,500 people included
- Who's Who and Who Was Who This link opens in a new windowa directory of the noteworthy and influential in every area of public life, published worldwide. Who Was Who includes 100,000 people, now deceased, who were included in previous editions of Who's Who creating the definitive roll-call of British history.
Bibliographies
- Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature (ABELL) This link opens in a new windowListings of articles, books, reviews, etc., on British, American, and Commonwealth literature; selective full-text. Covers monographs, periodical articles, critical editions of literary works, book reviews, collections of essays, and doctoral dissertations published anywhere in the world from 1920 onwards. All aspects and periods of English literature are covered, from Anglo-Saxon times to the present day. British, American and Commonwealth writing are all represented. Coverage is international, including material in languages other than English.
Part of Proquest One Literature (Formerly part of LION)
- Book History Online This link opens in a new windowAn international bibliography in the field of book and library history, BHO "provides a comprehensive survey of all scholarly publications written from a historical perspective. Included are monographs, articles and reviews dealing with the history of the printed book, its arts, crafts, techniques and equipment, its economic, social and cultural environment, as well as its production, distribution, preservation and description.
- International Medieval Bibliography This link opens in a new windowPart of Brepolis medieval bibliographies. Brepolis International Medieval Bibliography (IMB) contains articles from journals, collected essays, conference proceedings and Festschriften. Select the database from the list on the Brepolis homepage.
- MLA International Bibliography (via EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowindex to papers, proceedings, dissertations, and bibliographies on literature, language, linguistics and folklore, from 1926 onward. Produced by the Modern Language Association of America
- Oxford Bibliographies Online This link opens in a new windowAccess to subject bibliographies for Literary and critical theory, Medieval Studies, Renaissance and Reformation and Victorian Literature
- Wellesley Index to Victorian Periodicals 1824-1900 - See under C19: the Nineteenth century index This link opens in a new window
- World Shakespeare Bibliography Online This link opens in a new window"searchable electronic database consisting of the most comprehensive record of Shakespeare-related scholarship and theatrical productions published or produced worldwide between 1960 and 2013."
Reference Collections
- Cambridge Histories Online This link opens in a new windowincludes over 250 volumes of the Cambridge Histories, including a variety of subject areas including American and British History, Language and Linguistics, Political and Social Theory and Literary Studies
- The Cambridge Companions to Literature and Classics This link opens in a new windowoffers thousands of comprehensive and accessible essays on major authors, periods and genres, written by experts and designed for student readers. For the author Companions, each writer is placed in literary and historical context, their major works are analysed, either in separate chapters or grouped according to theme, and their influence on later writers assessed.
- Oxford ReferenceAccess to 47 literature titles including dictionaries and Oxford companions to literary movements and genres
- Oxford Handbooks Online - LiteratureAccess to Oxford Handbook titles for Literature