Libraries
 

Guide to Research in Caribbean Literature


This guide is a selective list of reference works on Caribbean writers. It also includes lists of journals and anthologies available in the IU libraries and databases to search for critical works on the subject. As such, it is intended to guide researchers and students to more extensive research sources.

Using the databases on the right of this page will also be of help in locating specific articles on Caribbean literature, particularly the MLA International Bibliography and ABELL. 


Bibliographies/Indexes

 

Allis, Jeanette B. West Indian Literature: An Index to Criticism, 1930-1975. New York: G.K. Hall, 1981.

Arranged in three sections: Index of Authors, Index of Critics and Reviewers, and Index of General Articles.

PR9210. A4

 

Berrian, Brenda F. Bibliography of Women Writers from the Caribbean, 1831-1986. Washington, D.C.: Three Continents Press, 1989.

Lists not only creative works but also literary criticism or book reviews by the writers. Divided into four sections by language: English Caribbean and Guyana, French Caribbean and Guyane, Netherlands Caribbean and Surinam, and the Spanish Caribbean. Each section, organized by genre, begins with the list of authors grouped by countries.

Z1595 .B46 1989.

 

Caribbean Women Novelists: An Annotated Critical Bibliography. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1993. Comp. by Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert and Olga Torres-Seda.

Lists alphabetically Caribbean women writers who have published at least one novel since 1950. List of Authors by Country is also included.

Z1595 .C364 1993.

 

Fenwick, M.S. Writers of the Caribbean and Central America: A Bibliography. 2 vols. New York: Garland, 1992.

List writers by nation of birth and also under nations of other significant residence.

Z1595 .F46 1992

 

Goslinga, Marian. Caribbean Literature: A Bibliography. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow, 1998.

Arranged into four sections: the Spanish-speaking, English-speaking, French-speaking, and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. Entries are then listed under each specific country or island and by subject or form.

Z1595 .G69 1998.

 

Jordan, Alma, and Barbara Comissiong. The English-Speaking Caribbean: A Bibliography of Bibliographies. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1984.

A comprehensive bibliography that covers a wide range of Caribbean topics. Check sections on History, Literature, or Women. Includes lists appearing in journals and bibliographies provided in books.

Z1595 .J67 1984.

  

          

Encyclopedias/Handbooks/Biographical Sources

 

Benson, Eugene, and L.W. Connolly, ed. Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English. 2 vols. London: Routledge, 1994.

Entries include genres, major subjects, and writers. Includes “Caribbean,” “Caribbean in Canadian Literature,” “Caribbean voices,” etc.

REF PR9080.A52 E53 1994.

 

Dabydeen, David, ed. A Handbook for Teaching Caribbean Literature. London: Heinemann Educational, 1988.

PR9205.A53 H364 1988.

 

Dance, Daryl Cumber, ed. Fifty Caribbean Writers: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook. New York: Greenwood, 1986.

Provides an introduction to the authors and an overview of their works and critiques followed by a bibliography of primary and secondary works.

REF PR9205.A52 F54 1986.

 

Dictionary of Literary Biography: Twentieth-Century Caribbean and Black African Writers. Ed. Bernth Lindfors and Reinhard Sander. Detroit: Gale Research.

Provides biographical essays on the writers and bibliographical information on their interviews and works.

First Series (v. 117) -- REF PR9205.A52 T88 1992.

Second Series (v. 125) – REF PR9205.A52 T89 1993.

Third Series (v. 157) – REF PR9205.A52 T893 1996.

 

Herdeck, Donald E., ed. Caribbean Writers: A Bio-Bibliographical-Critical Encyclopedia. Washington: Three Continents, 1979.

Divided into Anglophone Literature from the Caribbean, Francophone Literature from the Caribbean, Literatures of the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam, and Spanish Language Literature from the Caribbean. Provides an introductory essay for each section. Also included are lists of writers, critical studies, anthologies, selected journals, or background books.

REF PN849.C3 C3.

 


Periodicals


These journals often publish critical articles on Caribbean writers and their works. This is not an exhaustive list but comprises journals available at IUB libraries.

 

Ariel: A Review of International English Literature.

A quarterly journal devoted to the critical study of literatures in English around the world such as International English Literature, Postcolonial Literatures, Commonwealth Literature, New Literatures in English, and World Writing in English.

PR1. A698.

 

Caribbean Quarterly.

Covers broad topics including history, literature, industry, education, sociology, ethnology, etc.

F1601 .C26.

 

The Journal of Commonwealth Literature.

A quarterly journal that provides a critical guide to Commonwealth Literature, Postcolonial Literature, and New Literatures in English.

PR1. J86.

 

Journal of Caribbean Literatures (JCLs).

Published three times a year and primarily in English, original or translated.

PN849.C3 J88

 

Kunapipi. 

A bi-annual critical and creative journal with special emphasis on the new literatures in English. Only excerpts and list of contents from back issues (1999- ) and current issue available online.

PR9080.5.K8.

 

Wasafiri. 

A critical and creative journal published three times in Britain for Black British, African, Asian and Caribbean literatures. Only table of contents listed online.

PR9340. A47.

 

World Literature Today.
Also available online through EBSCO (1990- ) at IU. The OU website also has back issues (2002- ) available in PDF.

Z1011 .B7.

 

World Literature Written in English (WLWE). 1972-2004.

Continued by Journal of Postcolonial Writing.

PN2 .W927


Journal of Postcolonial Writing. 2005-

Formerly World Literature Written in English. Semi-annual.

 


Anthologies

Brown, Stewart, ed. Caribbean New Wave: Contemporary Short Stories. Oxford: Heinemann, 1990.

PR9205.8 .C37

 

Bloom, Harold, ed. Caribbean Women Writers. Philadelphia: Chelsea, 1997. 

Provides a biographical sketch with critical extracts and list of works for each writer.

PR9205.05 .C37

 

Burnett, Paula, ed. Penguin Book of Caribbean Verse in English. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1986.

PR9205.6 .P46

 

Caribbean Panorama: An Anthology from and about the English-Speaking Caribbean with Introduction, Study Questions, Biographies, and Suggestions for Further Reading. Comp. by Kathleen K. Ferracane. San Juan, P.R.: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, 1999.

PR9205.5 .C37

 

Dance, Daryl Cumber. New World Adams: Conversations with Contemporary West Indian Writers. Yorkshire: Peepal Tree, 1992.

A collection of interviews with 23 writers.

PR9210.D36

 

Donnell and Sarah Lawson Welsh. The Routledge Reader in Caribbean Literature. London: Routledge, 1996.

PR9205.5 .R68

 

Espinet, Ramabai. Creation Fire: A CAFRA Anthology of Caribbean Women’s Poetry. Toronto: Sister Vision; Tunapuna: CAFRA, 1990. 

PR9216 .C74                   

 

Markham, E.A., ed. Hinterland: Caribbean Poetry from the West Indies and Britain. Newcastle upon Tyne: Bloodaxe, 1989.

PR9205.6 .H56

 

McDonald, Ian and Stewart Brown, ed. The Heinemann Book of Caribbean Poetry. Oxford: Heinemann, 1992.

PR9205.6 .H44

 

Mordecai, Pamela, and Betty Wilson. Her True-true Name: An Anthology of women’s Writing from the Caribbean. Oxford: Heinemann International, 1989.

PR9215.H4

 

Morris, Mervyn, ed. The Faber Book of Contemporary Caribbean Short Stories. London: Faber and Faber, 1990.

PR9205.8 .F32

   

 

 Page created by Seenhwa Jeon

 

 

last updated: 5/14/2010