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Short Story Criticism

Books

Use CONSULS, the online catalog of the four CSU libraries (Central-CCSU, Eastern-ECSU, Southern-SCSU and Western-WCSU) and the Connecticut State Library - StLib, to find books and other biographical and critical materials on authors. Choose Subject from the CONSULS Main Menu screen and then type the author's name (last name first). It is not necessary to type the author's full name but it is important to spell correctly.

A list of SUBJECT HEADINGS will appear in alphabetical order. Select the heading with the subdivision "biography" (for biographical information) or criticism (for critical analysis of the writer's works).

If your search does not have the subdivision you are looking for, choose the subject heading with the most entries. This is usually found in line 1 or 2.

To locate a short story in CONSULS, do a title search by choosing Title from the CONSULS Main Menu screen:

You may also do a word search by selecting  keyword from the CONSULS Main Menu screen:

If there are too many entries, you may limit your search to items available in the SCSU library by clicking on the down arrow next to Search All Libraries and selecting Search SCSU. 

You can also limit by year of publication, language or type of material in Advanced Search.

Books pertaining to language and literature are shelved in the P section according to the Library of Congress Classification System. Books that have Ref before the call number are shelved in the Reference section on the main floor of Buley Library. Circulating books are indicated by SCSU Stacks in CONSULS. The P section of the circulating collection is split between the second and third floors. Books with call numbers A through PN501 are on the second floor. PN501 through Z are on the third floor.

Basic Literature Reference Sources

The following multi-volume interrelated sets are excellent starting points for finding biographical or critical information about writers. All of the series is cross-indexed. Look up your author in the index section of the last volume of each set. Next to the author's name there will be abbreviations of books in which information about the author can be found. These abbreviations are expanded in the front of each volume. Check CONSULS to get the call number of the publication cited.

Children's Literature Review -- Ref PN1009. A1 C5139
Contains excerpts from criticisms, reviews and commentaries of books for children and young people.

Contemporary Authors (CA) -- Ref Z1224. C6
A bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, motion pictures, journalism and other fields. There is an annual paperback title index.

Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series -- (CAAS) -- Ref PN453. C63 Provides autobiographies of important current writers. The index lists names, titles, subjects and schools of writing. All genres included.

Contemporary Authors New Revision Series (CANR) -- Ref Z1224. C58
Provides updates on authors listed in Contemporary Authors. Use the latest CA cumulative index to locate individual author's listing.

Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC) -- Ref PN771. C59
Contains excerpts from criticisms of authors who are now living or who have died since January 1, 1960. There is an annual paperbound title index and a cumulative index of authors and critics.

Dictionary of Literary Biography (DLB) -- Ref PN, PQ, PR and PS
Over a hundred volumes, each one dealing with a different topic. To locate a particular writer, check the author index in the latest volume. Check CONSULS to locate books in which the critical information may be found.

Literary Criticism from 1400 -1800 (LC) -- Ref PN86. L53
Contains excerpts from criticisms of authors who lived between 1400 and 1800. Has a cumulative index to authors. Includes all genres.

Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism (NCLC) -- Ref PN761. N5
Contains excerpts from criticisms of authors who lived between 1800 and 1900.

Something About the Author (SATA) -- Ref PN451. S6
Lives and works of authors and illustrators of children's books. Indexes in alternate odd numbered volumes beginning with Vol. 57. Has authors' index and illustrations index.

Something About the Author Autobiography Series -- Ref PN497. S66
A collection of autobiographical essays written by prominent authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults. Each essay has a bibliography.

Twentieth Century Literary Criticism (TCLC) -- Ref PN771. G27
Excerpts from criticisms of authors, playwrights, poets and other literary figures who died between 1900 and 1960.

To Locate Stories in Collections

The following index shelved in the Reference section is useful in finding short stories that appear in collections. Check CONSULS to see if SCSU has the book in which the story is published.

Short Story Index -- Ref Z5917. S5 C6
An index to 60,00o stories in collections. Has annual updates and a five year cumulative index.

Short Story Criticism Sources

The first ten entries under this category are part of the Dictionary of Literary Biography Series published by Gale. Each volume deals with a specific time period or genre.

American Short Story Writers, 1880-1910 --Ref PS374. S5 A39

American Short Story Writers before 1880 --Ref PS374. S5 A38

American Short Story Writers, 1910-1945. First Series --Ref PS374. S5 A396

American Short Story Writers, Second Series --Ref PS374. S5 A3962

American Short Story Writers since World War II --Ref PS374. S5 A3964

American Women Short Story Writers: A Collection of Critical Essays -- on order

British Short Fiction Writers, 1800-1880 --Ref PR829. B72

British Short Fiction Writers, 1880-1914 --Ref PR129. D5

British Short Fiction Writers, 1915-1945 -- Ref PR829. B746

British Short Fiction Writers 1880-1914. The Romantic Tradition --Ref PR829. B744

Critical Survey of Short Fiction -- Ref PN3373. M24 7 vols. + supplements
Provides author biographies and analysis of their works. Authors arranged alphabetically.

Masterplots II. Short Stories --Ref PN3326. M27 6 volumes
Arranged alphabetically by title, each includes a list of main characters, a synopsis of the story, themes and meanings of the story and comments on the style and techniques of the author.

Short Story Criticism -- Ref PN3373. S386 (ongoing series)
Criticisms of works of major short story writers of all eras and nationalities. There is a cumulative author index in each volume.

Short Story Writers --Ref PN3373. S398 3 volumes
A bio-bibliographical reference guide to short story writers. Includes index.

Twentieth Century Short Story Explication -- Ref Z917. S5 W33
Contains interpretations of short stories found in books and periodicals. Continued by the annual bibliography in each summer issue of the journal Studies in Short Fiction.

Twentieth Century Short Story Explication: New Series --Ref Z5917. S5 W33
Continuation of the old series.