Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia

by William Rose Benét, Bruce Murphy

Long recognized as the outstanding reference on world literature, Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia is the one against which all others are measured, and is the single-most complete one-volume encyclopedia available for those with a serious interest in the subject. The entries explore all aspects of literature from around the world: biographies of poets and playwrights, novelists and belle trists; plot synopses and character sketches from important works; historical data on literary schools, movements, terms and awards; myths and legends; and more.

Completely revised and updated, this fourth edition captures the diversity of today's canon, with greater attention to African-American, Eastern, Middle Eastern, African, South American, Eastern European and women's literature.

For nearly 50 years, this unique single-volume encyclopedia of world literature has been hailed as the best available. Here are over 10,000 informative entries, covering everything a reader could wish to know:


Biographies of poets, playwrights, novelists, essayists and belle trists from around the world and through the ages, from Aristophanes to Toni Morrison, from Chuang Tzu to Juan Rulfo.
Plot summaries of important literary works, ranging from Beowulf to Wuthering Heights to Things Fall Apart.
Sketches of principal characters from literature, from Salome to Leopold Bloom.
Myth, legend and folklore, covering everything from Isis to the Midgard Serpentto to the paladins.
Biographies of artists, musicians, philosophers and other historical personages ranging from Roman emperors to U.S. presidents who figure prominently in literature.
Accounts of significant schools and movements in literature, such as the Bloomsbury Group and the Beat writers.
Original titles, as well as the most familiar English titles, for works in languages other than English.
Recipients of major literary awards, including Pulitzer and Nobel prize winners.
And more...

For nearly 50 years, William Rose Benet and the editors who succeeded him have upheld the level of quality that distinguished the original Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia. Like its predecessors, this new edition will teach and delight, illuminate and expound, and enrich the pleasure of reading in countless ways.

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

1168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Works of William Rose Benét, American writer and editor, include poetry, novels, and The Reader's Encyclopedia (1948).

Stephen Vincent Benét, his brother, also wrote.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Rose Benet is long gone but his work (now at well over 1000 pages) is alive and well covering most all the major works, writers, and movements up to its publication date. You can remember (with the help of an entry) who “Raffles” was. Or, find out what was the extent of “gaucho literature.” Or, get the author and plot summary of “Twenty-six Men and a Girl.”

I have the heavy-weight hardbound edition, but I am sure it would work as well or better in electronic version. However, I have not seen such offered. Is it at all necessary in this world of: “Hey Siri, Who was Sciron?”

I leave that to you gentle readers.

[Janine Oliker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an indispensible book for the serious reader. I note that Tara S. is currently reading Absalom, Absalom, and I am reminded that it was given to me as a gift after we read that book in book club – in 1990. (I own the third edition.)

[Martin Olesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was 16, my high school librarian, my mentor and guardian angel, gave me a copy of the Second Edition. I literally read it from cover to cover. I returned to it over and over, for specific information or for random pleasure. No other book has influenced the path of my reading as much. I have not seen the later editions but I do hope they have maintained the same excellence.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t remember if you read that book? Interested in brief author info? Want to check an unfamiliar reference in your latest reading? Here it is. Unfortunately, with easy internet access, I am assuming this book’s time has come.

[Geri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read & referred to this book for over 10 years. It is endlessly fascinating, entertaining & enlightening. Even if I never intend to read the full version of a book, this encyclopedia provides a quick yet encompassing understanding & awareness of many great works of literature. This encyclopedia was & still is literature's "Google".

[Jeremy]

Pick this book up, flip through its pages, and you'll find that you've passed an hour or two without noticing it. It's an addiction and one topic is referenced to at least two others within the same pages. A reference book with gusto!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this kind of book is outdated so quickly, but i loved this as a teenager and spent hours poring over it. it's still useful for plot summaries, characters, authors, etc. nothing fancy, but certainly absorbing.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource for anyone with an interest in literature.

[Megan Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hours and hours of entertainment. It is like a print-version of Google for literature. Have fun.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for all fans of literature.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-have.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any book that makes me feel so smart when I'm reading it. Or should I say skimming, with the promise to myself that I will, one day, read it from cover to cover.

[Torie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enormously helpful in the days before Wikipedia.

[Elizabeth]

hardcover, dustjacket, second edition 1965

from the jacket: the only encyclopedia of world literature in a single volume

[Mark Dickson]

Along with Edith Hamilton's "Mythology," this is one of the most referenced sources I use in my personal reading.

[Hawthorn Mineart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, and I'm slowly making my way through it.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An editor's best friend before the age of computers!