Novels
Novels are by definition works of fiction (as opposed to fact) written in prose (as opposed to the lined verse of a poem or the dialogue of a play). They are also typically continuous (as opposed to being broken up into multiple short stories) and fairly lengthy (as opposed to a novella, which is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel). Use the resources below to find literary criticism for novels using print and electronic resources.
Locating Novels
You can browse literary novels (and short stories) at the Central Library by heading straight to the following call numbers in the non-fiction section: 823 (English), 833 (German), 843 (French), 853 (Italian), 863 (Spanish), 873 (Latin), 883 (Classical Greek). For novels originally written in other languages or by authors hailing from other countries, it is best to search the catalogue directly.
You can also find many novels in the fiction section at all VPL locations, organized alphabetically by the author's last name; however not all of these will be considered "literature" in the sense that they are subject to literary criticism.
Finding Literary Criticism
1. Check the Catalogue. For major fiction writers, such as Charles Dickens or Jane Austen, the library will have materials that analyse their novels. Search for the author's name in the library catalogue by subject and add the phrase Criticism and Interpretation.
e.g. Jane Austen + Criticism and Interpretation.
If an entire book has been written about a novel, such as Dickens' Great Expectations, you may find it in the Library's collections. Search for the author's name in the catalogue by subject and include the title of the novel.
e.g. Charles Dickens + Great Expectations
2. Use the literary criticism reference tools that include analysis of many different works, especially the various series published by Gale. Almost all major Gale series are available in the Reference Resources section on level 6 and online through our electronic databases below
- Gale Ebooks : This subcollection of the Gale Virtual Reference Library contains resources for understanding works of literature. It includes the For Students literature criticism series, Something About the Author series, plus encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries and other authoritative reference sources. Also try browsing the criticism works in the 8XX.9 sections on Level 6 for the appropriate language and genre (poetry, drama, fiction, etc.) and look at table of contents and indexes in each item to see if it critiques the work of interest.
- Gale Literary Index: This is the master index to Gale’s literary criticism reference tools.
- Literature Criticism Online Find authoritative critical essays and biographical profiles in this comprehensive full-text database, which includes the hundreds of volumes of Literature Criticism, Contemporary Literary Criticism, Literature Criticism 1400-1800, Poetry Criticism, Shakespearean Criticism, and 20th Century Literature Criticism. Modern and historical essays are included, covering all literary genres and periods.
