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Literatures in English: Africa

This page lists sources that cover multiple periods, genres, and/or nationalities. See additional resources in the "Historical Literary Period" and "Geographical Region" pages.

Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Companions, Biographical Information

African Literature and Its Times. Ed. Joyce Moss and Lorraine Valestuk. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Geisel 7th Fl. PL 8010 .M65 2000

African Writers. Ed. C. Brian Cox. NY: Scribner's, 1997. 2 vols. Available as part of Literature Resource Center.

The Cambridge Companion to the African Novel. Ed. F. Abiola Irele. NY: Cambridge UP, 2009. Print volume also available in Giesel stacks.

Columbia Guide to Central African Literature in English Since 1945. By Adrian A. Roscoe. NY: Columbia UP, 2008. Online and Geisel 2nd Fl. West Reference PR 9390.5 .R59 2008

Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945. By Simon Gikandi and Evan Mwangi. NY: Columbia UP, 2007. Geisel 7th Fl. PR 9304 .G55 2007

Columbia Guide to South African Literature in English Since 1945. By Gareth Cornwell, Dirk Klopper, and Craig MacKenzie. NY: Columbia UP, 2010. Online and Geisel 7th Fl. PR 9350.2 .C67 2010

Columbia Guide to West African Literature in English Since 1945. By Oyekan Owomoyela. NY: Columbia UP, 2008. Online and Geisel 2nd Fl. West Reference PR 9340.5 .O96 2008

A Companion to African Literatures. Ed. Olakunle George. Hoboken: Wiley, 2021.

The Companion to African Literatures. Ed. Douglas Killam and Ruth Rowe. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2000. Geisel 2nd Fl. West Reference PR 9340 .C65 2000

Contemporary African Writers. Full texts available in Literature Online (LiON).

Encyclopedia of African Literature. Ed. Simon Gikandi. NY: Routledge, 2003. Online and Geisel 2nd Fl. West Reference PL 8010 .E63 2003

Herdeck, Donald E. African Authors: A Companion to Black African Writing, 1300-1973. Washington DC: Black Orpheus Press, 1973. Geisel 7th Fl. PL 8010 .H38

Walder, Dennis. Post-Colonial Literatures in English: History, Language, Theory. Blackwell Publishers, 1998. Geisel 7th Fl. PR9080 .W25