Reader's Companion to World Literature

by Lillian Herlands Hornstein (Editor)

A guide to the immortal masterpieces from the dawn of civilization to the present.

Genres: Reference, Literature, Nonfiction, Books About Books, Literary Criticism

577 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1956

Reviews

[Melodie Wendel-Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The copy I have (from 1956) covers mostly older (Homer/mythology/classics of 1700-1800s)....the newest mention was Abraham Lincoln.
It's still a good reference dictionary for essays, or initial class discussion.

[Gowsalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book very much

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic research but badly needs an update - many female writers excluded.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Another reference book in my Shelf-Clearing Project). This is a pretty old, mass-market paperback, and the paper is beginning to deteriorate; the binding is stiff enough to make the print near the signature hard to read. I would hope there was a hardcover edition at one time; I'll be looking for one at library booksales, unless I come across a similar book that's a little more up-to-date. The entries, although much briefer than those in HarperCollins Reader's Encyclopedia of American Literature, seem reliable and of course, its focus on world literature rather than works only in English or from the Western Hemisphere is extremely useful. I'll hold on to this relic until I find a better equivalent.

[Charmless · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a bit hard to find a good copy of this one nowadays since it's already out-of-print but if you come across it at some used bookstore somewhere, buy it immediately. Various insights, critiques and previews are provided in quite succint ways in this very handy reference to world literature.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is another of those wonderful books that fell into my hands I know not how. Terrific short articles. A joy.

[Takipsilim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and well-written, this classic guide will further augment one's love for literature. It certainly did mine.

[John Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for literary classics. Whether one is looking up writers or works from around the world, this is a good source to go to.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real go-to reference. My beat-up paperback is small, but the print is tiny, with thin spacing and thin pages so it packs a real wallop for its size--feeling like a full-sized encyclopedia. It always seems to have the figure you want to read more on. There are subjects outside western tradition on occasion. It hits all the salient points, expanding to 4-5 pages on major figures or movements e.g. the Middles Ages, Milton, and Faust. I have not detected any bias of any kind.