American Literature

Online reference resources offer biographical and critical information about authors, their works and other literary topics, for example:

Columbia Granger's World of Poetry
Topics: Fulltext poems | Biographies of Poets | Commentaries | History & Criticism | Subject Search | Glossary

Folktales and Fairy Tales: Traditions and Texts from around the World
Folktales and fairy tales from around the globe | History | Geography | Culture | Anthropology | Contemporary Topics | Fairy Tale in Manga | Television | Pop Music | Music Videos

Gale Literature
Topics: Literary Criticism for Authors and their Works | Cross-searchable with Children's Literature Review -  Dictionary of Literary Biography - Literature Criticism Online - Something About the Author | Great Sources of Information about the Lives of Authors and their Works

Literature and Politics Today
This encyclopedia explores the relationship between literature and politics through entries on authors, historical figures, major literary and political works, national literatures, and literary movements. It covers specific themes, concepts, and genres related to literature and politics from the 20th century to the present.

Salem Literature Online
Critical Survey of Long Fiction, 4th edition | Critical Survey of Graphic Novels | Critical Survey of Shakespeare's Sonnets | Magill`s Literary Annual | Selected Titles from the Critical Insights Series

Use this search box to search across hundreds of electronic reference resources from one of four publishers.

Gale, Springer, Sage and EBSCO refer to the publisher or platform. Gale and EBSCO are the broadest, Springer is STEM focused.

The Reference Room, located on the 3000 Level of Booth Library, also offers many handy reference titles in print that can help you with your research.  Browse the collections in the PS call number ranges, or use the EIU Library Catalog to conduct a search by keyword or subject term.