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Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1995. 1,236 p. $39.95.
Literature lovers are often frustrated by having to consult several reference books in order to get information related to authors, works, terms, pronunciation, literary theorists and scholars, literary criticism, literary journals and prizes, and so forth. Readers can now turn to a single source, the recently published Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature.
This single-volume reference book is the product of a joint effort of the editorial staffs of Merriam-Webster and the Encyclopedia Britannica. Not surprisingly, the most innovative aspect of this book is the merger of two traditional reference tools: the encyclopedia and the dictionary. It offers a rich source of information about world literature and provides detailed, up-to-date coverage of authors, works, and literary terms and topics. Its information on non-English-speaking authors and authors of various ethnicities (including their works and influences) is particularly...