Backgrounds to Restoration and Eighteenth-Century English Literature

In this time of proliferating scholarship, one of the most welcome publications is [this] intelligently selected and annotated bibliography of secondary material. . . . Understanding the value of selectivity, Spector has limited his entries to books and significant articles. Perhaps because of his avowed interest in redefining the period, he has been careful to include articles on historiography and critical method which apply to the eighteenth century. He has not, however, slighted...
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In this time of proliferating scholarship, one of the most welcome publications is [this] intelligently selected and annotated bibliography of secondary material. . . . Understanding the value of selectivity, Spector has limited his entries to books and significant articles. Perhaps because of his avowed interest in redefining the period, he has been careful to include articles on historiography and critical method which apply to the eighteenth century. He has not, however, slighted the older works of twentieth-century scholarship. . . . A valuable resource not only to students of literature abd related fields but to anyone interested in learning about the eighteenth century. Analytical & Enumerative Bibliography

Scholarly perspectives on the literature of the Restoration and eighteenth century have undergone dramatic shifts over the past sixty years, increasingly emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach to the various elements that influenced and modified the culture of the period. The first comprehensive guide to modern scholarship in the field, this annotated bibliography offers a wide-ranging survey of subjects that form the context of English literature from 1660 to 1800. The disciplines represented include political, social, and intellectual history; philosophy; science; aesthetics; education; and language in addition to literary criticism.

The author begins with a thoughtful examination of the history of Restoration/eighteenth-century scholarship. Divided into 22 subject categories, the bibliography presents annotated listings of existing bibliographic sources and noteworthy books and articles published since the late 1920s. This authoritative new work allows the reader to explore the cultural climate that influenced the activity of writing and to understand the complex forces that shaped the period and its literature. The bibliography is an appropriate choice for literary reference collections in academic and public libraries.