The Literature Book

March 1, 2016

Using infographics to detail 4,000 years' worth of literary history and development in chronological order, this resource is divided into seven sections, from 3000 BCE to the present, including Heroes and Legends: 3000 BCE-1300 CE; Romanticism and the Rise of the Novel: 1800-1855; and Depicting Real Life: 1855-1900. More than 100 major works are discussed, with additional titles representative of each literary period listed as suggested reading. Articles are brief and easy to understand, spanning one to four pages in length. Most entries provide an author's biography. Although the introduction states that the literature discussed is "global," the majority of the works are American or European. The content and tone seem well suited as preparatory handouts to high school English classes; however, when searching for analysis, historical context, or writer backgrounds, librarians might find Gale's Something About the Author Online or "Twayne's Masterwork Studies" series to be more beneficial. VERDICT This pleasant introductory source is appropriate for undergraduates studying English literature and the circulating collections of high school and college institutions.--Lura Sanborn, St. Paul's Sch. Lib., Concord, NH

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2016
The latest addition to DK's Big Ideas Simply Explained series is a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate guide to famous global literature, featuring over 100 books spanning 4,000 years. The introduction notes that storytelling is as old as humanity itself and explains what titles were chosen for inclusion here and why. The book is divided into time periods (for example, Heroes and Legends, 3000 BCE1300 CE, and Breaking with Tradition, 19001945 ), and the entries are punctuated with snappy quotes from each title. There are illustrations, time lines, plot diagrams, and character guides. The attractive presentation (not to mention price point) makes this suitable for the circulating collections of most libraries, where readers will find it as entertaining as it is informative.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)