Introduction to Literature:

Best Bets

• American Decades (covers the years from 1950-1999). 4 vols. Reference R 973.92 A512

• Britannica Online: A good source for historical period information.

To access this resource from off campus, go to Reference Sources and choose Britannica Online from the alphabetical list. You may also want to take a look at Accessing Library Resources From Off Campus.

• Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them. Prehistory to 2000. Multiple volumes. Reference R 809.93358L776.

More Resources

• Atlas of the Greek World. Reference R938 L664a

• Cambridge Encyclopedia of Russia and the Soviet Union (covers the years from the 4th millennium BC to 1982). Reference R 947.003 C178.

• Cambridge Historical Encyclopedia of Great Britain and Ireland. Reference R 942.003 C178

• Companion to Russian History. (covers the years from the 6th century to 1983). Reference R 947.003 P341c

• Daily Life in Elizabethan England. 1995. Reference R 942.055 S617d

• Magill's History of Europe. (covers the years from 1750 BC - 1992). 6 vols.Reference R 940 M194 1993.

• Victorian Britain. (covers the years from 1837-1901). Reference R 942.081 V645 

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• Use Illinet Online (IO)to find books held in the Elmhurst College library as well as books owned by 44 other Illinois academic libraries.

• Sample Guided Keyword Searches
 
• Works by Oscar Wilde: author words search on Wilde Oscar
• Works about Oscar Wilde: subject words search on Wilde Oscar
• Books on public speaking/giving presentations: subject words search on public speaking

 

• Sample Library of Congress Subject Headings:
 
• Wilde, Oscar
• Aristophanes
• Shaw, Bernard

 

• Ordering books from other libraries ~ Illinet Online allows you to request books held by 45 academic libraries in Illinois.

• If no library in Illinet owns the book you need, go to the Reference Desk (blue glitter lamp area) and ask for assistance in requesting the book.

A theater or book review is a "notice of a current work or performance. One can distinguish between a review and other sorts of serious criticism: The review gives readers an idea of the work under consideration. The critic, on the other hand, usually writes about works of some established standing. The boundary line between the two forms is very uncertain in actual practice, however."

From "Review" in A Handbook to Literature, 8th ed., 1999, p. 440.

• Drama Criticism, 18 vols. Great source of criticism, biography, and some theatre reviews. Reference R 809.2 D763c.

• Gale Databases~ Includes Contemporary Authors, Contemporary Literary Criticism Select, and the Dictionary of Literary Biography. Also includes the Twayne series which provides criticism of the works of major U.S., English, and world authors from Aristophanes to the present. Author entries range from 175-200 pages. (Access from on campus only.)

• How do I find out if the Elmhurst College Library has the journal I need?

• Search for the journal title in Illinet Online.

 

• For example, search for the title Journal of African History.

 

• If you don't find the journal you need, take a look at the list, Journals and Magazines Available Online. You can also call or email the reference department to inquire about a specific title or ask a question.

 

• How can I order a photocopy of an article I can't find at Elmhurst College?

Finding Articles: Theater Reviews

Best Places to Start (These are all full text)

• For recent productions (within the last ten years), search newspapers through Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe.

To access this resource from off campus, go to Articles and Databases and choose Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe from the alphabetical list. You may also want to take a look at Accessing Library Resources From Off Campus.

• New York Times has the full text of the Times from 1999-present.

To access this resource from off campus, go to Electronic Newspapers and choose New York Times from the alphabetical list. You may also want to take a look at Accessing Library Resources From Off Campus.

• New York Times Historical Edition, 1851-1999.

To access this resource from off campus, go to Electronic Newspapers and choose ProQuest Historical New York Times from the alphabetical list. You may also want to take a look at Accessing Library Resources From Off Campus.

• New York Theatre Critics Reviews (1940-1996). Full-text print resource in the periodicals area, shelved alphabetically by title.

• Selected Theatre Criticism, 1900-1950. 3 vols. Includes reprints of selected theatre reviews. Reference R 792.9509747 S464.

Another Source (This is an index only--no full text)

• Guide to Critical Reviews (parts 1 and 3) ~ Reviews of American drama from 1909-1982. Reference R 809.2 S163g3 1984.

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• Voice of the Shuttle: Drama, Theater, and Performance Arts Studies
• Literary Resources: Theatre and Drama
• Internet Public Library: Online Literary Criticism Collection
• Theatre History Sites on the WWW

Evaluating Internet Resources

• How to Evaluate the Sources You Find
• Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools
• Dissing the King

Tips on Giving a Presentation

• Toastmasters International: 10 Tips for Successful Public Speaking
• Virtual Presentation Assistant