The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature - Third Edition

More about the book

This indispensable volume, based on the popular Oxford Companion to English Literature, features over five thousand alphabetically arranged entries covering novels, plays, poems, authors, literary movements, and more. It includes useful plot summaries, important character profiles, and biographical articles on influential figures in literature, all presented with a light touch that enhances readability. The fully revised third edition introduces numerous new entries on writers such as Marcel Proust, Michael Cunningham, Harper Lee, and Cormac McCarthy, alongside emerging British talents like Monica Ali, Hari Kunzru, and Zadie Smith. Readers will find concise accounts of notable figures including philosopher Jean Baudrillard, critic Terry Eagleton, science fiction writer Douglas Adams, fantasy author Philip Pullman, poet Jean "Binta" Breeze, playwright Michael Poliakoff, and children's author J.K. Rowling. Updated appendices list Nobel, Booker, and Pulitzer prize winners, and a new timeline chronicles the evolution of literature from its origins to the present day. With extensive coverage of global literature, critical theories, and modern authors, this work is essential for all literature enthusiasts. Compiled by over 140 distinguished contributors under the guidance of Margaret Drabble, it deserves a place on the shelves of every literature lover.