The Reader's Companion to World Literature

by Lillian Herlands Hornstein (Editor), G.D. Percy (Editor), Calvin S. Brown (Editor)

Compiled and edited by a board of distinguished educators, this alphabetically arranged encyclopedia serves as a reader's compass--allowing any literary explorer to navigate through the world's most influential books, authors, literary terms, and movements. An all-in-one reference volume, it will enhance the reading pleasure of anyone who wants to understand writers in their historical setting and relate them to their predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Its analysis of literary works focus on content, importance, style, and the relationship to other writing. From the myths and poems of the ancients to the radical works that changed the course of modern thought, The Reader's Companion to World Literature charts a map of the human condition as rich, fascinating, and diverse as the world itself.

The Reader's Companion to World Literature Includes A-to-Z Listings on

Authors--supplies dates of life and works in critical evaluations of everyone from Herodotus to Hemingway.

Titles--describes in detail the most important, mentioning pertinent movements and influences from Beowulf to Cherry Orchard.

Literary Movements--defines aims, techniques, styles, and settings of classicism, Impressionism, and many others.

Historical Periods--explains background, ideals, and settings for authors and works from classical antiquity to the Renaissance.

Technical Terms and Phrases--essential tools for students to understand and use in their study of literature, from "assonance" to "trope."

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

816 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1956

Reviews

[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.