Literature

Imaginative or creative writing, prose and poetry of generally recognized artistic value.

Sub-headings:

Authors

Sites here are about the work or lives of specific authors or sites that discuss groups of authors. For sites about authors in a time period, use the Literature by Time Period section.

Book Lists & Awards

Book Recommender Systems

Criticism

Literature by Time Period

Online Texts

Writing

Works about the writing process and directed mainly toward writers.

Resources in this category:

American Comparative Literature Association
http://www.acla.org/

"The American Comparative Literature Association, founded in 1960, is the principal learned society in the United States for scholars whose work involves several literatures and cultures as well as the premises of cross-cultural literary study itself. In its largest sense, comparative literature promotes the study of intercultural relations that cross national boundaries, multicultural relations within a particular society, and the interactions between literature and other forms of human activity, including the arts, the sciences, philosophy, and cultural artifacts of all kinds. The members of the ACLA are thus joined not by a national, linguistic, or methodological investment held in common, but by the shared condition of teaching and writing across nations, languages, and cultures--and hence by their lively interest in comparison as both a theoretical and a practical matter."

American Folklore Society
http://www.afsnet.org/

Founded in 1888 at Harvard University by humanistic and social science scholars, the American Folklore Society advocates the collection and analysis of oral and material traditions using both literary and anthropological methodologies. This newly created AFS web site reflects this interdisciplinary trend and is divided into four categories. The first, Contacting AFS, contains information about the officers of the society and the site manager. The second, About AFS, leads to the outdated AFS Gopher (which still contains an archive of AFS Newsletters), information concerning the Annual Meeting, AFS Bylaws, Membership, Publications, and Sections. The third section, Resources, lists the Calender of Events, Conferences, Internships, Jobs, Prizes, and Vitae Archive. Finally, the Related Sites, points areas of folkloristic interest: the American Council of Learned Societies, Graduate Programs, American Folklife Center, Center for Folklife Programs, and other Folklore Links.

American Literary Translators Association
http://www.literarytranslators.org/

"ALTA, whose national offices are located at the Center for Translation Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas, was founded in 1978 to provide essential services to literary translators from all languages and to create a professional forum for the exchange of ideas on the art and craft of translation. Through annual conferences, newsletters, collaboration with other professional organizations and lobbying efforts, ALTA works to enhance the quality and status of literary translation and to improve the market for the publication of works in English translation." The site has information about the organization, a calendar of events, a bibliography of book reviews of translated works, an index to the journal Translation Review, information about contests and grants, and a conference schedule.

American Literature Association
http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/english/ala2/

"The American Literature Association is a nonprofit organization designed to inform the American literature community to the news, events, and activities of our members." This web page contains the ALA Newsletter, the upcoming conferences, a list of the members, a bulletin board, affiliated societies, future events and a contact person.

The Association for Literary and Linguistic Computing
http://www.allc.org/

The Association for Literary and Linguistic Computing supports the use of computers in the study of language and literature. Issues studied include text analysis, image processing and electronic editions.

The Association for the Study of Literature and Environment
http://www.asle.umn.edu/

"The Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE, pronounced "az-lee") was founded in October 1992 to promote the exchange of ideas and information pertaining to literature that considers the relationship between human beings and the natural world. Although this literature genre is sometomes called 'nature-writing', the name of the organization is meant to be as inclusive as possible, encompassing not only literary non-fiction but also nature poetry, environmental fiction and other forms of literature that illumnate both human and non-human nature. ASLE encourages and seeks to facilitate new nature writing, traditional and innovative scholarly approaches to environmental literature, and interdisciplinary environmental research, including discussion between literary scholars and environmental economists, historiuans, journalists, philosophers, psychologusts, art histrians, natural scientits, and scholars in other disciplinbes."

The Association of Literary Scholars and Critics
http://www.bu.edu/literary/

"The Association of Literary Scholars and Critics offers a forum for all those interested in the distinctive nature, uses, and pleasures of literature, from ancient to modern, in all languages. Its aim is to encourage wide-ranging discussions between those committed to the reading and study of literary works, and to the reading and writing of non-fiction essays, criticism, and scholarship concerned with them. We seek to develop a healthy environment for academic literary study and for the literary culture that extends beyond the academy. We accordingly welcome literary scholars, both academic and independent; teachers of literature in colleges, universities, and secondary schools; poets, novelists, playwrights, actors, and directors; translators, journalists, critics, editors, and publishers; and all other serious students of literature, wherever they come from and however they define themselves."

The British Comparative Literary Association
http://www.swan.ac.uk/german/bcla/bcla.htm

"The British Comparative Literature Association (BCLA), founded in 1975, aims to promote the scholarly study of literature without confinement to national or linguistic boundaries, and in relation to other disciplines. The BCLA's primary interests are in literature, the contexts of literature and the interaction between literatures." This web page contains information about the association, when and where their annual conference is to be held, publications, membership info, research being done, the executive committee, other links to other comparative literature associations and contact information.

Classical Association of Ireland
http://www.ucd.ie/cai/

"The Classical Association of Ireland is for anyone with an interest in the ancient world and its aim is to provide lectures, field trips and social events so that people can cultivate this interest. It produces a newsletter three times a year as well as this annual journal. Members have free admission to events arranged by their local branch and our given priority for special events such as summer schools an classical tours." This associations home page does not have links. It has a contact person if interested and description of what they are doing. It has items published by them which are available on line.

The Dante Society of America
http://www.dantesociety.org/

"Founded in 1881 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, and Charles Eliot Norton" among others, "the Dante Society of America is dedicated to the furtherance of the study of the works of Dante Alighieri." The site includes extensive bibliographies, a link to the Electronic Bulletin of the society, a society newsletter, and an archive of the Dante2000 conference. The site also includes information on the Society's annual conference and awards for student papers.

Electronic Literature Organization
http://eliterature.org/

The Electronic Literature Organization is dedicated to facilitating the establishment of literature in electronic media. Highlights of the site include a searchable directory of electronic literature available on the web, news, information on tools for electronic publishing, links to publishers, and upcoming events.

Jane Austen Society of North America
http://www.jasna.org/

"Our mission is to foster among the widest number of readers the study, appreciation, and understanding of Jane Austen’s works, her life, and her genius." Site includes information on JASNA's annual meeting, publications, Society news, occasional papers, book reviews from the JASNA newsletter, and the Society journal _Persuasions_ online. There is also news about various activites.

National Council of Teachers of English
http://www.ncte.org/

"The National Council of Teachers of English, the world's largest subject-matter educational association, is devoted to improving the teaching of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Since 1911, NCTE has provided a forum for the profession, an array of opportunities for teachers to continue their professional growth throughout their careers, and a framework for cooperation to deal with issues that affect the teaching of English. NCTE has 80,000 members and subscribers in the United States and other countries. Individual members are teachers and supervisors of English programs in elementary and secondary schools, faculty in college and university English departments, teacher educators, local and state agency English specialists, and professionals in related fields." The NCTE home page contains links to conventions; books; conversations (listservs); conferences; journals; memberships; and current news. Each category has extensive topics. There are no online full texts under journals, only subscription emails and tables of contents.

National Fantasy Fan Federation
http://www.simegen.com/fandom/n3f/

"The National Fantasy Fan Federation came into existence in April of 1941, making it one of the oldest of fandom organizations still in operation. N3F is a gathering place for people looking for others who share the same interests for the discussion, review, and critique of Science Fiction and Fantasy in all medias. N3F harbors professional writers among its ranks as well as the semipros and amateurs... The primary goal of N3F is CONTACT... Through N3F information about conventions, gaming, computers, writing, literature, film, and television and a whole lot more are shared. Bureaus have been set up to coordinate these interests." The site primarily describes the various bureaus and provides contact information to them.

Poetry Society of America
http://www.poetrysociety.org/

The Poetry Society of America is attempting to inform people about poetry. They offer awards to poets, they have a publications, they work in collaboration with other organizations to inform the public, and they offer workshops for the public. This web page contains information on the events they are involved with, the workshops, memberships, committee members, publications, and the listing of people who have won their awards.

Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing
http://www.sharpweb.org/

"The Society for the History of Authorship, Reading & Publishing (SHARP) is a new organization for scholars working in all areas and aspects of the history of print culture. Whether your interest is women's authorship or literacy studies, children's periodicals or the history of copyright or of book selling or the history of reading, literary agents or incunabula, SHARP offers a network and a forum for academics, librarians, publishing professionals, authors, and independent scholars involved in the study of the social and cultural history of books, newspapers, and periodicals. As an international society, we welcome new members from all parts of the world working in any national literature."

Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature
http://www.spellorg.com/

"An organization of people who love [the English] language and are determined to resist its abuse and misuse in the news media and elsewhere." Their website includes excerpts from the bimonthly publications SPELL/Binder, membership information, information on their scholarship essay competition, and examples of scholarship-winning essays.

Dramaturgy Pages
http://www.dramaturgy.net/dramaturgy/

Resources for the critical and scholarly examination of drama and dramatic works, "examining the workings of theatre and performance." Includes information on what a dramaturg is and what they do, and Net and other resources for dramaturgy.

Western Literature Association
http://www.usu.edu/westlit/

"Members of the Western Literature Association (WLA) are dedicated to the enjoyment and study of western regional literature. They believe the West offers high-quality writing worthy of both scholarly and popular attention. The WLA shares information about western regional literature through its quarterly journal, Western American Literature, and through annual conferences."

World Romance Writers
http://www.worldromancewriters.com/

"World Romance Writers (WRW) is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to the enrichment, education, and promotion of romance writers around the world." The site links to web pages of member writers, has information about retreats and awards.

World Science Fiction Society
http://worldcon.org/

"There is no such thing as direct membership in the World Science Fiction Society. You can only be a member of one or more particular World Science Fiction Conventions. The membership of WSFS is defined as the membership of the upcoming Worldcon... The purposes of the WSFS, according to its rules, are as follows: to choose the recipients of the annual Hugo Awards (Science Fiction Achievement Awards), to choose the locations and Committees for the annual World Science Fiction Conventions (the Worldcons), to attend those Worldcons, and to choose the locations and Committees for the occasional North American Science Fiction Conventions (the NASFiCs)." The site revolves around the Worldcons with links to future and past convention information.