Word from Oxford

Since its foundation in 2015, the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature has steadily expanded under the leadership of two Editors in Chief – Paula Rabinowitz followed by Deidre Lynch – and the support of an international editorial board. With such expert guidance, the ORE of Literature now hosts more than 800 articles by renowned writers, critics, and scholars from all over the globe.

From the emergence of book culture in Northern Europe to vibrant 21st century Indian fiction, from female writers in Latin America to queer literature and film theory, the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature continues to map the world’s entire landscape of literary expressions and criticism, weaving together the various fields and approaches that make up literature in its broadest sense. The ORE of Literature not only offers a rigorous yet accessible overview of current literary research but also acts as a living resource that evolves as the discipline evolves in order to constantly reflect and inspire new debates within the academic community.

The scope of the ORE of Literature has been conceived in the tradition of the great encyclopedic works of the past, but its methods for dissemination are wholly modern and tailored to the fast-changing needs of our digital world. In an age where information is of seemingly infinite quantity yet often of dubious accuracy, we strive to fill the demand for a high-quality, reliable, and easily navigable research tool. Peer-reviewed and frequently updated, articles have the opportunity to feature a wide array of multimedia resources, including audio-visual materials, links to digital archives, and other pedagogical tools.

We invite you to browse our recently published articles and welcome your feedback as we continue to build the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature.

We look forward to working with you!

Yours,