Literary Research and the British Romantic Era: Strategies and Sources

by Peggy Keeran, Jennifer Bowers

Overview

The British Romantic era (ca. 1775-1830) was a time of contradictions, of growth, and of diversity in all aspects of English life. "Romanticism" originally referred to the works of six male poets: Wordsworth, Blake, Shelley, Coleridge, Keats, and Byron. However, current scholarly attempts to demonstrate that the period encompasses a rich and varied range of poets, essayists, and novelists of both genders have caused the definition to come under debate.

Not limiting itself to these six figures, Literary Research and the British Romantic Era discusses English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh resources for both primary and secondary research within the Romantic Era, including general literary research guides; union library catalogs; print and online bibliographies; manuscripts and archives; microfilm and digitization projects; eighteenth and nineteenth century journals and newspapers; contemporary reviews; and electronic texts, journals, and Web resources. Each chapter addresses the best methods to extract relevant information from the research tools employed, enabling scholars to find relevant materials. The strengths and weakness of core and specialized electronic and print research tools and standard search techniques are also examined.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810852099
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/20/2005
Series:	Literary Research: Strategies and Sources , #1
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	7.64(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Peggy Keeran is an associate professor and the arts and humanities reference librarian at the University of Denver Penrose Library.

Jennifer Bowers is an assistant professor and a reference instruction librarian at the University of Denver Penrose Library.

The authors are coeditors of the Scarecrow Press series, Literary Research: Strategies and Sources.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Acknowledgments Part 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1. Basics of Online Searching Chapter 4 2. General Literary Reference Resources Chapter 5 3. Library Catalogs Chapter 6 4. Print and Electronic Bibliographies, Indexes, and Annual Reviews Chapter 7 5. Romantic Literature: Scholarly Journals Chapter 8 6. Contemporary Reviews Chapter 9 7. Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Journals and Newspapers Chapter 10 8. Microform and Digital Collections Chapter 11 9. Manuscripts and Archives Chapter 12 10. Web Resources Chapter 13 11. Researching a Thorny Problem Part 14 Appendix: Resources in Related Disciplines Part 15 Bibliography Part 16 Index Part 17 About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

...admirably fulfills its intent: 'to explain the best practices for conducting research in the British Romantic era and to address the challenges scholars working in this era face.' And, it sets the benchmark for the volumes to follow in the important new series.

Literary Research Guide - James L. Harner

This invaluable guide to standard resources for the British Romantic Era is the first in a series of volumes designed to lead scholars through the intricacies of modern literary research....This outstanding book offers much sensible advice and provides source material that will guide both students and professionals in the finding and intelligent selection of material from the overwhelming plethora of information available in this modern age.

American Reference Books Annual

Keeran and Bowers, both reference librarians at the University of Denver Penrose Library, describe primary and secondary research resources for Romanticism, including general literary research guides, union library catalogs, print and online bibliographies, manuscripts, archives, and microfilm and digitization projects. The authors also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of core and specialized electronic and print research tools and standard search techniques.

Reference and Research Book News

The focus here on the research process and methodology sets this excellent resource apart from other similar titles. Thoroughly researched and clearly presented, this is an excellent initial offering in the series. Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers.

Choice Reviews

The focus here on the research process and methodology sets this excellent resource apart from other similar titles. Thoroughly researched and clearly presented, this is an excellent initial offering in the series. Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers.

Choice

The focus here on the research process and methodology sets this excellent resource apart from other similar titles. Thoroughly researched and clearly presented, this is an excellent initial offering in the series. Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers.

CHOICE

...admirably fulfills its intent: 'to explain the best practices for conducting research in the British Romantic era and to address the challenges scholars working in this era face.' And, it sets the benchmark for the volumes to follow in the important new series.
— James L. Harner

Literary Research Guide

This invaluable guide to standard resources for the British Romantic Era is the first in a series of volumes designed to lead scholars through the intricacies of modern literary research....This outstanding book offers much sensible advice and provides source material that will guide both students and professionals in the finding and intelligent selection of material from the overwhelming plethora of information available in this modern age.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)