Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Merriam-Webster (Editor), Encyclopedia Britannica (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
A joint effort of editorial staffs from Merriam-Webster and Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (MWEL) "contains entries for authors, works, literary landmarks, literary and critical terms, mythological and folkloric figures, fictional characters, literary movements and prizes, and other miscellaneous matters." The book is encyclopedic in coverage but very dictionary-like in its brevity of entries.

The more than 10,000 entries in this volume cover a vast amount of territory. There are biographical entries covering all nationalities and periods (Cavalcanti, Guido; Futabatei, Shimei; Joyce, James), brief entries on literary characters (Bovary, Emma; Hawkins, Jim), on specific works (Driving Miss Daisy; Lotus-Eaters, The), on forms of criticism (Feminist Criticism, New Criticism), on movements and events (Jindyworobak Movement, War of the Theaters), and on styles (Eclogue, Guwen). The only thing lacking is entries on the literary traditions of specific countries.

The average entry is well under 150 words, with the longest under 700 (Shakespeare, William, for example), and some as few as seven (Lineation is defined simply as "an arrangement of lines [as of verse]" ). Pronunciation is provided for most entries (even Miller, Daisy has one) and then an etymology for entries that define terminology. For biographical entries, places and dates of birth and death are given. The entry proper includes any cross-references ("used sparingly" according to the prefatory material) in small-capital letters. Titles of works are given in the original language followed by English translation. All entries are unsigned, and there are no bibliographies. Several hundred small black-and-white photographs and illustrations are provided.

By attempting to cover almost everything, some entries are almost uselessly brief (as in the Lineation example above). Others, though with a literary connection, almost seem lifted from a Merriam-Webster dictionary. Epigraph, for example, has two definitions, the first being "an inscription on a statue, a building, or a coin," and the second, "a quotation set at the beginning of a literary work." An oddity is the inconsistent description of living writers in both the present and past tense. The entry Drabble, Margaret, for example begins, "English writer of novels that are skillfully modulated variations on the theme of. . . ." Proulx, E. Annie, however, begins, "American writer whose darkly comic yet sad fiction was peopled with quirky, memorable characters." Nevertheless, MWEL admirably covers topics from a wide breadth of literary subjects. The volume also will serve as a valuable supplementary source for literary allusions, with such entries as Banshee, Jezebel, Kali, and a variety of other mythological and religious entries.

MWEL perhaps most closely represents the various Oxford Companion titles for depth of coverage, though even in that series one must first find the appropriate country-or genre-related volume. Any number of literary dictionaries and biographical dictionaries contain similar entries, but for sheer ready-reference capabilities, MWEL is in a class of its own. Its low price further justifies a place for this volume on any library's reference shelf.

Review
This single-volume compendium of world literature blends a dictionary and an encyclopedia format to provide the latest coverage of authors and literary terms. Over 10,000 entries and numerous illustrations blend in a fine all-genre compilation which assesses novels, poems, plays, and literary criticism. Enjoy surprisingly detailed sketches which include plot summaries and listings of works. -- Midwest Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1236 pages
• Publisher: Merriam-Webster; illustrated edition edition (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877790426
• ISBN-13: 978-0877790426
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,986 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #23 in	Books > Reference > Encyclopedias > Literature
  #50 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Books & Reading > Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Use My Copy Frequently - A Valuable Resource, February 23, 2003

By	Michael Wischmeyer (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature professes to be a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the world of literature - authors, works, terms, and topics - from all eras and all parts of the world. In my view this joint effort of Merriam Webster and Encyclopedia of Britannica is exactly what it claims to be. I have used this valuable resource for several years and I highly recommend it.

This is a rather heavy, thick book and not suitable for a carrying in a backpack. I keep my copy readily accessible in my favorite reading area. Whenever I look up a topic, I pencil-in a small check mark. My little check marks are now scattered throughout this reference book.

The short descriptive passages, generally around 100 to 500 words, are well written and often sufficiently intriguing that I find myself moving from one related topic to another. This compilation is ideal for students and teachers, but I recommend this single volume encyclopedia for anyone that enjoys literature.

The references include literary works, classic authors, contemporary authors, mythology and folklore, literary terms, literary styles, historical literary movements, scholars and critics, and literary awards and prizes. I rarely fail to find whatever I am looking for. I would be quite surprised if this compilation did not meet your needs.

I also have a copy of another good reference work, Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia, possibly the best-known literary encyclopedia. Benet's compilation overlaps considerably with the Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature, but the two are not identical.

Benet's reference work contains less literary references, most notably fewer literary terms and definitions. Benet's is less likely than Merriam-Webster to have a short essay on a specific literary work or poem. For example, Benet's does not have an entry for The Name of the Rose, I Sing the Body Electric, Love in the Time of Cholera, For the Union Dead, or many other titles found in Merriam Webster.

However, Benet's compilation is wider in scope, having many historical definitions (e.g., Napoleon Bonaparte, Congress of Vienna, Vietnam War, Vikings), more religious terms (e.g., trimurti - Hindu and tripitaka - Buddhist), and more art and music references (e.g., Grandma Moses, Picasso, and Mozart).

I give 5 stars to Merriam Webster and 4 stars to Benet.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Reference, February 14, 2001

By	Rick Terpstra (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

You will not find, regardless of what others may say, a more complete literature encyclopedia on the market. While shopping for one a few years back I did a comparison between M-W's Encyclopedia of Literature and Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia. M-W's had far more entries and far better descriptions and definitions. I credit this book with helping me do well on the GRE Literature exam since I pulled much of my study material from it. This is a must have for all students and teachers of literature.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A hefty overview, January 21, 2003

By	Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Merriam Webster's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LITERATURE is a 1200 page overview of literature, with entries documenting important written materials from antiquity to contemporary times. Arranged alphabetically, this volume is easy to use. Readers can look up authors, individual works, literary devices and forms, and schools of thought - the important ones are all there. Because so much is included, the entries themselves are short, usually one or two paragraphs. This volume is wonderful if you want to remind yourself of an author's major works or what the definition of a sonnet is. You can use the thumbnail entries as starting points for additional research, or as a quick way to check dates and titles.

As an overview of literature throughout the ages, this encyclopedia is well worth owning. If you want more in-depth analysis, I suggest looking for books particular to your topic of interest.