Finding Primary Texts
Anyone researching a writer or a literary topic generally consults
primary literary texts. There are various options for obtaining such
texts.
Quest:
An obvious strategy is to search Quest, BC Libraries' online catalog. There's a very good chance that O'Neill Library has a physical copy of the text you require.
The Web
Numerous full text literary works are freely available on the web. Particularly valuable is Google Book Search which points to hundreds of
thousands of public domain books that may be downloaded as PDF copies. One may limit one's search from Google's Advanced Book Search to only those titles that are full-text.
Primary Texts Through BC Libraries Online Databases
In addition to the Quest
database, BC Libraries have numerous other online databases where a
very large number of electronic literary texts may be accessed. Many of
these texts are authoritative editions.
Other Useful Full-text Databases With Primary Literary Texts
Other useful full-text databases include:
- African-American Poetry (1750-1900)
- American Drama (1600-present)
- American Poetry (1600-1900)
- Asian American Drama
- Black Drama
- British and Irish Women's Letters and Diaries
- Canadian Poetry
- Dictionary of Old English: A to G Online
- Early American Fiction (1789-1850)
- Early English Prose Fiction (1500-1700)
- Editions and Adaptations of Shakespeare (1591-1911)
- Eighteenth Century Journals
- Eighteenth-Century Fiction (1700-1780)
- English Drama (1280-1915)
- English Poetry (600-1900)
- English Poetry, 2nd Ed. (8th-early 20th cent.)
- Faber Poetry Library (20th cent.)
- Irish Women Poets of the Romantic Period
- Letters of Matthew Arnold
- Literary Theory (Ancient Greece-present)
- Literature Online (600-present)
- Middle English Compendium (c. 1100-c. 1500)
- Nineteenth-Century Fiction (1782-1903)
- North American Theatre Online
- North American Women's Letters and Diaries
- Past Masters
- Perdita manuscripts: women writers 1500-1700
- Scottish Women Poets of the Romantic Period
- Twentieth Century African-American Poetry
- Twentieth Century American Poetry
- Twentieth Century English Poetry
- W.B. Yeats Collection (1885-1995)
- Women Writers Online
Subject Guide |
Brendan RappleContact Info:
Room 409
O'Neill Library
Boston College
Ph: 617 5524482
Send Email
Subjects:
Education, English
Room 409
O'Neill Library
Boston College
Ph: 617 5524482
Send Email
Subjects:
Education, English
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