Biographies have many uses in literary research beyond simply summarizing facts about an author. Additionally, biographies offer information that can help you position a work historically, study the reception of an author's work(s), or analyze the relationship between an author's life and their works.

To search Primo for book-length biographies of authors, do a subject search for the author's name.

E-books in Collins Library are fully integrated into Primo Search! 

Consult the e-books guide to find out more about finding and using our growing e-book collection.

Use Google Books to search the text of a book.

Collins Library, like most academic libraries in the United States, uses Library of Congress Subject Headings to describe the content of books. If you are researching an author about whom much has been written, you can use Library of Congress Subject subheadings to help pinpoint your search.

You only need to be an observant user of Primo -- not an expert in the use of subject headings -- to make them work for you. Availing yourself of frequently used subject headings will help you locate secondary sources easily. The most frequently used sub-heading for interpretive criticism is "criticism and interpretation". If you want to expand your search to include historical, political, and other forms of analysis, add (criticism OR history) to your search instead.

Here are several examples, centered on Jane Austen and her works, of the various ways you can use LCSH to help pinpoint what you need:

Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 -- Criticism and interpretation.

Austen, Jane, 1775-1817. Pride and prejudice.

Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 -- Political and social views.

Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 -- Influence.

Women and literature -- England -- History -- 19th century.

English literature -- 19th century -- History and criticism.

Sometimes you may need to search more broadly; not for resources related to a specific author or work but for criticism of a theme or genre. Subject headings can also help you find books and other resources related to:

• literary themes - For this type, you may want to begin with a general keyword search; however many subject headings follow this structure: "_______ in literature" or "Literature and ________" (e.g., Gender identity in literature; Literature and technology)
• literary movements (e.g., Modernism (Literature) -- United States; Harlem Renaissance)
• genres (e.g., Science fiction, Graphic novels; Lyric poetry)
• a critical approach (e.g., Deconstruction; Feminist literary criticism; New Historicism)
• authors and literature by nationality (e.g., Irish literature; Authors, Irish)
• a writer's identity (e.g., Gays' writings, American; American literature -- African American authors)

In other words, be adventurous! Try several different subject headings (solo and in combination with one another) when exploring resources in Primo. You'll be surprised at what you discover!

Many of the databases that the library subscribes to include book reviews alongside journal articles and other documents. Below is a list of some of the most useful databases for finding book reviews in the popular press, literary magazines, and elsewhere.