African American Writers.
Includes good, fairly long, entries on authors (i.e. Gwendolyn Brooks) and a few literary topics (i.e.). Selected bibliography at the end of each entry will help you find the best sources on your topic.
REF PS153.N5 A344 2001Modern Black Writers.
Excerpts from critical appraisals (originally published in books and periodicals) of writers in fiction, poetry, and drama.
REF PN841 .M58 1996African American Women Writers of the Nineteenth Century.
From the Schomburg Center's Digital Collection, New York Public Library.
http://digital.nypl.org/schomburg/writers_aa19/Schomburg Center Guide to Black Literature: from the Eighteenth Century to the Present.
Provides a chronology and brief entries on a variety of topics related to black literature including specific writers, works, and topics such as Protest Fiction.
REF PN841.Z9 V36 1995Concise Oxford Companion to African American Literature.
Great place to browse for topics or look up a brief entry on a variety of topics.
REF PS153.N5 C59 2001Harlem Renaissance: A Gale Critical Companion.
Reprinted essays and excerpts of criticism. "Unless the descriptor 'excerpt' is used in the annotation, the essay is being reprinted in its entirety." This 3 volume set gives very detailed coverage of the Harlem Renaissance.
REF PS153.N5 H245 2003Black Literature Criticism: A Broad Selection of the Best Criticism of Works by Major Black Writers in the Past Two Hundred Years.
Covers writers from all over the world, including the United States.
Excerpts of criticism only!
REF PS153.N5 B556 1992 and REF PS153.N5 B556 1992 Suppl
Appalachian/Southern
Tip: Appalachian writers often appear in reference books covering Southern literature. Contemporary Authors (REF PN771 .C583) is another good source for biographical info about Appalachian writers.
Appalachian Authors: A Selective Bibliography
REF PS286.A6 Z927 1990The Companion to Southern Literature: Themes, Genres, Places, People, Movements, and Motifs.
This is a good source for finding information about Southern topics. Entries include: Bible Belt, grits, jazz, storytelling, and Y’all.
REF PS261 .C55 2002Contemporary Fiction Writers of the South: A Bio-bibliographical Sourcebook
Each entry contains a biography, “major themes,” a “survey of criticism,” and a bibliography including a list of interviews with the author. “Contemporary” includes writers who have published work(s) in the last 30 or 40 years.
REF PS261 .C565 1993Also, try Contemporary Poets, Dramatists, Essayists, and Novelists of the South: a Bio-bibliographical Sourcebook
REF PS261 .C568 1994Contemporary Southern Writers
“Contemporary” includes “those writers living in the late 1990s and those recently deceased who published new works into the 1990s.” Entries give basic biographical information, a list of writings, and an entry about the authors works.
REF PS261 .C569 1999A Guide to Literary Sites of the South
REF PS144.S67 R63 1998
Latino and Latina Writers
Selection of Latino and Latina writers, and the focus "is on authors who write in English and whose characters, locations, and themes show some distinct commonalities. In-depth essays on each author or theme (i.e. Chicana Feminist Criticism) give information about the writer's life and works. Each entry provides an excellent selected bibliography of works, criticism, biographies, etc. A great place to start your research!
REF PS153.H56 L39 2004Hispanic Literature Criticism
Excerpts of criticism of 71 authors from all over the world including the U.S., Cuba, Mexico, and Spain. Entries include some biographical information as well.
REF PQ6039 .H5 1994
Dictionary of Irish Literature
Two-volume set covers over 1000 scholarly entries about Irish authors.
REF PR8706 .D5 1996Oxford Companion to Irish Literature
Brief informative entries ranging from authors (i.e. Eibhlin Dubh Ni Chonaill) to topics (i.e. Protestantism).
REF PR8706 .O88 1996
Native American Literature: An Encyclopedia of Works, Characters, Authors, and Themes.
Entries are fairly brief and do not contain bibliographies, but it does cover a wide range of authors.
REF PS153.I52 W47 1999Cambridge Companion to Native American Literature.
WCU General PS153.I52 C36 2005
A Historical Companion to Postcolonial Thought in English.
Provides a historical context to postcolonial literature, the substantial entries cover topics (i.e. apartheid, Ireland, Islam, oil, West Indies Federation, World Wars, etc.). Gives a bibliography of literary works along with each topic and as well as a list of histories. Also includes a few maps and a chronology. Use other resources for information about postcolonial writers and their works.
REF PR9080.A52 H57 2005Postcolonial African writers: a Bio-bibliographical Critical Sourcebook.
Covers many authors' life and works. Each entry has a nice selected bibliography.
REF PL8010 .P585 1998African Writers.
In-depth entries on major writers. Very nice selected bibliographies including works (in English and other languages), interviews, and criticism.
REF PL8010 .A453 1997African Authors: A Companion to Black African Writing 1300-1973.
Covers more authors than African Writers, though the entries are more brief. Entries Some entries include photos or illustrations.
REF PL8010 .H38 1974Encyclopedia of Post-colonial Literatures in English.
Brief scholarly entries on a wide range of authors (i.e. Margaret Atwood, ) and literary topics (i.e. awards, humor and satire, war literature, etc.)
REF PR9080.A52 E53 1994 v.1The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature.
Entries written by experts cover a wide range of authors (i.e. Michael Ondaatje, Alice Munro, etc.) and topics (i.e. aboriginal literature, censorship, sportswriting, etc.)
REF PR9180.2 .O94 1997The Companion to African Literatures.
Brief entries on a variety of authors and literary topics such as Afrikaans, Bushmen in South African Literature, and Zulu Literature).
REF PR9340 .C65 2000Fifty Caribbean Writers.
Entries about each writer’s life, works, and the critical reception of those works. Very nice bibliographies at the end of each entry.
REF PR9205.A52 F54 1986Oxford Companion to Australian Literature.
Brief yet fairly detailed entries about authors (i.e. Fay Zwicky) and topics (i.e. Australian Dream)
REF PR9600.2 .W55 1985Writers of the Indian Diaspora.
Scholarly entries giving information about each author’s life, works and critical reception. Bibliographies at the end of each entry list the author’s works as well as criticism of the author.
REF PR9485.45 .W75 1993