"Irish literature: either of two literatures, one in the native language (Irish, or Gaelic) of Ireland and the other in the language of the English conquerors; the latter is often called Anglo-Irish literature.... The history of Anglo-Irish literature is inextricably intertwined with that of English literature." (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
This research guide covers Anglo-Irish literature written by authors from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. For further resources on Northern Ireland, and English literature in general, consult the guide on World Literatures in English: United Kingdom.
GETTING STARTED with Reference Sources To begin your library research, consult reference sources for a general overview or summary of your topic. You can test your main concepts or keywords. If you haven't decided on a point of view, an overview will help you focus your research and provide a context. It often includes a list of books and articles for further reading.
A reference book, such as an encyclopedia or dictionary, provides:
A brief overview of the topic
Significant names and dates associated with the topic
Terminology specific to the topic
Related subjects and terms which might be used when searching for books and articles
Other sources where more information might be found
SELECTED REFERENCE SOURCES: Each of these works either focuses on or contains substantial sections on English language literature by Irish authors.
Biographical Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
British and Irish dramatists since World War II • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN451 .D54 v. 245
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British and Irish literature and its times : Celtic migrations to the Reform Bill (beginnings-1830s) / Moss, Joyce, 1951- • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR25 .M67 2001
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British and Irish literature and its times : the Victorian era to the present (1837-) / Moss, Joyce, 1951- • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR471 .M65 2001
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British and Irish novelists since 1960 • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN451 .D54 v. 271
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The concise Oxford companion to Irish literature • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8706 .C66 2000
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Dictionary of Irish literature • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8706 .D5 1996
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Dictionary of Irish writers / Cleeve, Brian Talbot, 1921- • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8727 .C5 1967
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Encyclopedia of Ireland : an A-Z guide to its people, places, history, and culture • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference DA906 .E53 2000
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James Joyce : a documentary volume • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN451 .D54 v.247
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The Oxford companion to Irish literature • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8706 .O88 1996
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The Oxford illustrated literary guide to Great Britain and Ireland / Eagle, Dorothy. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR109 .E18 1981
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NOTE: Lists and describes places associated with authors. The index of authors link their biographical sketch with locations.
The Penguin companion to English literature • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN41 .P43 v.3
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NOTE: A dictionary covering British and Irish Literature, and Commonwealth literature in English.
The poets of Ireland;;a biographical and bibliographical dictionary of Irish writers of English verse / O'Donoghue, D. J. (David James), 1866-1917. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8761 .O3 1968
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Twenty-first-century British and Irish novelists • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN451 .D54 v. 267
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Unveiling treasures : the Attic guide to the published works of Irish women literary writers : drama, fiction, poetry / Weekes, Ann Owens, 1941- • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8733 .W46 1993
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A William Butler Yeats encyclopedia / McCready, Sam. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR5906 .M44 1997
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Literary Criticism, Research & Bibliographies
The Abbey Theatre series of plays; a bibliography / French, Frances-Jane. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8783 .F7
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Irish literature, 1800-1875 : a guide to information sources / McKenna, Brian. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8750 .M37
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Irish playwrights, 1880-1995 : a research and production sourcebook • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8789 .I67 1997
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Literary landscapes of the British Isles : a narrative atlas / Daiches, David, 1912- • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR109 .D34
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Modern Irish writers : a bio-critical sourcebook / Gonzalez, Alexander G. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8727 .G66 1997
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Poets of Great Britain and Ireland, 1945-1960 • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN451 .D54 v. 27
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Poets of Great Britain and Ireland since 1960 • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN451 .D54 v. 40
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Recent research on Anglo-Irish writers • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8712 .R4 1983
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The white page =;an bhileog bh?an : twentieth-century Irish women poets • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR8853 .W55 1999
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Language Dictionaries
Dictionary of Hiberno-English : the Irish use of English • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PE2406 .D53 1999
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NOTE: Focusing on the dialects of the English language in Ireland, and the influence of foreign words and phrases. Includes bibliographical references.
Find Books and more in our Library Use the Library Catalog to locate materials within our collection. The Library Catalog provides location, call number and bibliographic information for the books, journals, newspapers, selected government documents, microforms and other media, as well as online or electronic resources owned or accessed by the Western Libraries.
Books Books are the most comprehensive and easiest to obtain sources of information. In the WWU Library Catalog, look up any books cited in your overview. To find additional materials, search by clicking on the subject headings listed in the record. Also, browse on the bookshelves in relevant call number areas.
Keyword searching Select Keyword search from the Online Catalog. Break down your search by key concepts. For example, the Keyword search Irish and poetry will retrieve the following book:
Guinness, Selina, ed. The new Irish poets. Tarset : Bloodaxe, 2004. Call # PR8858 .N49 2004
Use broader terms to expand your search. For example, the keyword search Commonwealth and literature will find books on English language literatures in countries that were part of the British Empire, including Ireland. Try narrower terms to focus your search, depending on your topic. For example, try the keyword search Ireland and women and authors.
Subject searching Western Libraries Catalog uses Library of Congress Subject Headings. The library assigns subject headings to all materials listed in the online catalog. The following are selected subject headings relating to topics on Irish literature in English:
Some subheading examples: English Literature Irish Authors -- Bibliography | English Literature Irish Authors -- Dictionaries | English Literature Irish Authors -- History and criticism | Irish Authors English -- Drama | Irish Authors English -- Fiction | Irish Authors English -- Poetry
Examples of related subjects: English fiction Irish authors | English fiction Irish authors -- History and criticism | English language -- Ireland | English poetry Irish authors | English poetry Irish authors -- 20th Century | English poetry Irish authors -- History and criticism | Irish authors -- historical fiction -- English | Irish authors -- short stories -- English
Find articles For information about using specialized periodical indexes and databases to find articles on world literatures in English, go to World Literatures in English: Find Articles.
Here are selected journals providing articles on topics about Irish literature:
Eire-Ireland; a journal of Irish studies • Check Catalog
Guides to Selected Works Included in these guides are seminal and recent works. Most can be checked-out. Be sure to consult the Western Libraries Online Catalog for location and availability.
The International Association for the Study of Irish Literatures (IASIL) "IASIL was founded in 1969 with the chartered aims of promoting the teaching and study of Irish literature in third-level education throughout the world, facilitating international contact between scholars researching in the field of Irish Literary Studies, and serving as a vehicle for bringing Irish writing to a wider audience through conferences and publications.... [Renamed from the International Association for the Study of Anglo-Irish Literature to] reflect real diversity of its members' interest in all traditions of writing on the island in Irish and in English as well as new Irish literature in Britain, America and elsewhere."
Irish Literary Sources and Resources Presents a collection of resources on Irish literature, provided by Michael Sundermeier. Includes resources on the archaeology, geography, and geology of ancient Ireland. Highlights ancient Irish literature, Irish drama, and Irish prose fiction by authors such as John Banim, William Carleton, James Joyce, and Gerald Griffin.
Literary Resources: Twentieth-Century British, Irish and Commonwealth Features a collection of Internet resources on twentieth-century British, Irish and Commonwealth literature, compiled by Jack Lynch of Rutgers University. Offers access to mailing lists, syllabi, and information on types of literature and specific authors.
Voice of the Shuttle: English Literature: Other Literatures in English: Ireland Extensive site created and maintained by Alan Liu and a development team at the University of California, Santa Barbara English Department. Might be the most comprehensive Humanities resource. Presents links to general resources in Irish literature, and collections of sites on important individual Irish authors. Offers access to sites on other literatures written in English.
Summit Summit is the combined library catalog of Pacific Northwest academic libraries. Use Summit to locate and request materials like books and videos which are not available from Western Libraries. To access Summit, search our library catalog first, then choose the option to “Repeat search in Summit”.
Jeanne Armstrong Reference and Instruction
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Phone: 360-650-7667
Email: Jeanne Armstrong
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