English 384 : The English Novel in the Eighteenth Century

Introduction to Library Research and Resources for
the English Novel in the Eighteenth Century

Joseph Jones

October 21, 1998

Note: Unless otherwise specified, all call numbers will be found in Koerner Reference

(Other library training sessions are also available)

Classification of Books


In the UBC Library system, English literature is classified in PR. There are four areas in PR where most of the eighteenth-century material will be found:
PR 441-449 General History and Criticism
PR 851-858 History and Criticism of Prose Fiction
PR 1297 Collections of Literature
PR 3291-3785 Individual Authors (1640-1770) -- Works & Criticism

When the collection was moved from Main to Koerner in January 1997, all of the monographs in these classifications were moved to Level 5 of Koerner Library.

Library Geography


To find any physical library material, you generally need two things: a call number and a location. A very common problem is trying to find a call number without having paid attention to the location(s). One location to watch for in particular is STORAGE, little-used and older material that must be asked for at a circulation desk. The UBC Library is a system consisting of many locations, collections, and services.

It is likely that most of the materials you seek will be found in Koerner Library. About half of the Humanities and Social Sciences collection was moved from Main to Koerner in January 1997. Most parts of the classification (PN, PR, PS) relating more directly to English studies moved completely to the new library. The exception was PE (English language), where only books published after 1978 moved over.

Within Koerner Library, the general collection is found on levels one (A-N) and four through six (P-Z). This collection is designated in the catalogue as KOERNER LIBRARY.

Also on level one, immediately to the left at the foot of the stairs, is KOERNER journals. This area includes bound volumes of active subscriptions. If you are looking for a journal that ceased publication before the move to Koerner, it probably will be found in Main. Annuals and monographic series are usually located in KOERNER LIBRARY.

On level two of Koerner are three large collections:

Once you have oriented yourself to these five locations within Koerner, you will know where most of the collection is. There are many other wrinkles, but these are best ironed out on an encounter basis.

Single-Author Bibliographies and Collections of Criticism


Useful single-author bibliographies that compile and annotate secondary critical work about the author can be found in the library catalogue under the subject subdivision Bibliography.

For example, the newest one for your seven authors is found under:

Radcliffe, Ann Ward, 1764-1823 -- Bibliography

Ann Radcliffe : a bio-bibliography / Deborah D. Rogers

Critical guides and collections of criticism can be found under the subdivision Criticism and interpretation. For example, under

Haywood, Eliza Fowler, 1693?-1756 -- Criticism and interpretation

you will find:

Eliza Haywood / Mary Anne Schofield

Note that this book, a general critical guide, includes a seven-page bibliography.

Selected Guides to Period, Genre, and Author


The British novel, 1680-1832 : an annotated bibliography / Laurence W. Mazzeno
PR 821 M385 1997

The Eighteenth-century British novel and its background : an annotated bibliography and guide to topics / H. George Hahn and Carl Behm
ZPR 851 H33 1985
Covers 46 authors including Defoe, Hays, Haywood, Radcliffe, and Richardson.

Eighteenth-century English literary studies : a bibliography / Waldo Sumner Glock
ZPR 441 G462 1984
Annotated guide to criticism that covers 25 authors including Defoe and Richardson.

English fiction 1660-1800 : a guide to information sources / Jerry C. Beasley
ZPR 851 B429 1978
Annotated guide to primary and secondary material. Covers 29 authors including Behn, Defoe, Haywood, Radcliffe, and Richardson.

The Eighteenth-century Gothic novel : an annotated bibliography of criticism and selected texts / Dan J. McNutt
ZPR 851 M325 1975
Covers six authors including Radcliffe.

The Eighteenth century / Donald F. Bond
ZPR 441 B653 1975
Covers 96 authors including none of the seven specific to your course.

Periodical Indexes


The Eighteenth Century : A Current Bibliography

MLA International Bibliography (Modern Language Association)

Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature
ZPR 82 M69 v.1- 1920-

The Year's Work in English Studies
ZPE 58 E6 v.1- 1919/20-

Subjects


Library of Congress Subject Headings

Among the terms you will be concerned with, the following are Library of Congress subject headings: Race, Colonization, Sex, Horror, Satire. Any LC subject heading can be made into a phrase heading ... in literature.

In print bibliographies and indexes, subject access depends on the organization of the work and what if any indexes are provided. A good deal of scanning may be required.

In online and CD-ROM indexes, it is tempting to do easy keyword searching and feel satisfied with whatever is found. A good search involves understanding what subject terminology control is used by the database and how it related to the structure of the database records. This is covered in some detail in Searching the Electronic World.

For example, in MLA International Bibliography online, Behn-Aphra and race- are descriptors that can be combined to produce a result of six citations. This is much better than reading through the 191 citations for Behn-Aphra or the 1005 for race-, or even worse, doing an intuitive keyword search and not understanding what you have or have not done.

Back