English Courses & Research

Need an author bio? Overview of a work? Critical reception over the years?

• Authors and works over 20 years old:

  • There are books that literally do exactly this for you--start there (you may have to look in the index or browse the shelf to find what you need)

• Authors and works from the past 10-20 years:

  • Interviews with the author on websites, podcasts, YouTube, newspapers, magazines, etc
  • The author's own website
  • Reviews in more standard publications, best bet is our ProQuest Central database

Ready to get in-depth into an author or work?

• Search OneSearch and WorldCat with keywords or subject terms.
• Or, figure out the location of one book on the shelves and browse the books next to it on the same topic.
  • Simply look at the call number of one relevant book, find that in person, and browse around.

Find specific criticism or archival/primary sources

Specific Criticism:

• Even current authors will be in the databases linked below; if not, revise your expectations to criticism in credible magazines and newspapers.

• Know the difference:

  • A BOOK REVIEW is a critical examination of that book. While well-written, it is not a scholarly study and should not be cited.

  • LITERARY CRITICISM evaluates or analyzes works of literature and will be in a peer-reviewed journal research article or book.

Archival material or primary sources

• Search online using keywords primary sources, archives, museum, site:org, or any combination plus your topic
• 
  • Example (link): Willa Cather Center
  •