The Oxford Companion to English Literature
Encyclopedia
The Oxford Companion to English Literature first published in 1932, edited by the retired diplomat Sir Paul Harvey (1869–1948), was the earliest of the Oxford Companions
to appear. The work, which has been periodically updated, includes biographies of prominent historical and leading contemporary writers in the English language, entries on major works, "allusions which may be encountered", significant (serial
) publications and literary clubs. Writers in other languages are included when they have had an impact on the anglophone world. Harvey's entries concerning Sir Walter Scott, much admired by Drabble in the introduction to the fifth edition, had to be reduced for reasons of space, in the sixth edition.
Modern technology has meant that the two most recent editions have been updated at intervals of about five years before more radical changes are made; a revised printing of the sixth edition was published in 2006. The book is considered the standard work in its field.
The revised 2000 edition is now available in the Oxford Reference Online series - by subscription only http://www.oxfordreference.com/pages/Subjects_and_titles__t113
Oxford Companions
Oxford Companions is a book series published by Oxford University Press. This series provides general knowledge of a specific area, and has included :* The New Oxford Companion to Law* The New Oxford Companion to Literature in French...
to appear. The work, which has been periodically updated, includes biographies of prominent historical and leading contemporary writers in the English language, entries on major works, "allusions which may be encountered", significant (serial
Serial (literature)
In literature, a serial is a publishing format by which a single large work, most often a work of narrative fiction, is presented in contiguous installments—also known as numbers, parts, or fascicles—either issued as separate publications or appearing in sequential issues of a single periodical...
) publications and literary clubs. Writers in other languages are included when they have had an impact on the anglophone world. Harvey's entries concerning Sir Walter Scott, much admired by Drabble in the introduction to the fifth edition, had to be reduced for reasons of space, in the sixth edition.
Modern technology has meant that the two most recent editions have been updated at intervals of about five years before more radical changes are made; a revised printing of the sixth edition was published in 2006. The book is considered the standard work in its field.
The revised 2000 edition is now available in the Oxford Reference Online series - by subscription only http://www.oxfordreference.com/pages/Subjects_and_titles__t113
Editions
- First edition, 1932 edited by Sir Paul Harvey
- Second, 1937 edited by Harvey
- Third, 1948, edited by Harvey
- Fourth, 1967 edited by Dorothy Eagle
- Fifth 1985 edited by Margaret Drabble
- Sixth 2000 edited by Drabble
- Seventh 2009 edited by Dinah Birch