Research Guides: English: British Literature

Journals

The following are links to specific academic journals which are published and peer-reviewed by experts in the field. If you want to narrow your search to a specific time period or genre, finding a journal that publishes in that area can help. For example, if you are writing a paper about Othello, a journal like Shakespeare Quarterly might be a good place to search.

Chaucer Review
Covers Chaucer and his works, but also covers other related Middle English issues and "associated studies on medieval literature, philosophy, theology, and mythography relevant to an understanding of the poet, his contemporaries, his predecessors, and his audiences." Essentially, a good source for critical analysis of Geoffrey Chaucer and related Middle English works.
English Literary Renaissance
Covers topics during the English Renaissance period, approximately 1485-1665, including topics on Tudor to Stuart era England as well as "Shakespeare, Spenser, Donne, and Milton."
The Review of English Studies
Covers a broad scope: English literature from its very beginnings until today. The Review of English Studies is more concerned with topics of "historical scholarship" as opposed to literary interpretation.
SEL: Studies in English Literature 1500-1900
Operates on a unique rotating schedule which rotates quarterly as follows: Winter-English Renaissance, Spring - Tudor and Stuart Drama, Summer-Restoration and Eighteenth Century, and Autumn - Nineteenth Century.
Shakespeare Quarterly
A journal published and housed by the Folger Shakespeare Library about, you guessed it, all things Shakespeare.
Victorian Literature and Culture
Covers all things Victorian, with a special focus on literature and culture.

Internet Sources

Literature and history are, and have always been, closely related. These online resources covering various topics on British history can help you understand not only the literature, but also its times.

British History Online
U. of London's Institute for Historical Research and the History of Parliament Trust developed this digital library of sources for British history.
British National Archives
The records of the UK's central government and courts of law, as well as current information on nongovernmental records located worldwide pertaining to British history.
British Library Resources
Unique collection items and expert commentary related to History, English and Citizenship.

Books

Search the entire library catalog here.

Materials on Literature topics are found under the "P" category more generally, while subclass PR features British literature specifically. These books are found on the third floor of the Chester Fritz Library.

PR1-9680	English literature
PR1-56	Literary history and criticism
PR111-116	Women authors
PR171-236	Anglo-Saxon (Beginnings through 1066)
PR251-369	Medieval. Middle English (1066-1500)
PR401-488	Modern
PR500-614	Poetry
PR621-744	Drama
PR750-890	Prose
PR1098-1369	Collections of English literature

Literature and history are, and have always been, closely related. To help understand the literature and its times, try searching for words such as:

British women writing
Literature and English revolution
Romanticism
British History

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Encyclopedias

There are a number of encyclopedias available online and in the library to help you get started on your research. They can help find general background information, definitions, and history on many literary terms and concepts specific to British literature.

For searches, include the word "encyclopedia" along with your topic. A few examples are:

British literature
English renaissance literature
British Women Writers

Many of the encyclopedias are online, such as:

Continuum Encyclopedia of British Literature
A large source for entries relating to British literature.

Dictionaries

The English language has changed dramatically over time. Below are dictionaries to help you understand the history of the language, as well as look up definitions and spelling.

Oxford English Dictionary
A historical dictionary documenting the evolution of the English Language.
Middle English Dictionary (Online)
Dictionary of Middle English words and phrases.
Anglo-Saxon/Old English Dictionary (Online)
Dictionary of Old English words and phrases.

Movie / TV Adaptations

The library has a DVD collection which includes many film and television adaptations of some of British literature's most popular and impactful works. The following are only a few found on our third floor:

Bleak House - based on book by Charles Dickens
Emma - based on Jane Austen's novel
Far from the Madding Crowd - based on Thomas Hardy's novel
Pride and Prejudice - based on book by Jan Austin

To find movies and TV shows, see the DVDs and Streaming Video Guide where you will find instructions on how to search the library catalog for these items, and you will find a page for Streaming Videos, which includes:

BBC Landmark Collections
Sony Pictures Classics
Royal Shakespeare Company