Collection: Reference

"From its roots in the oral tradition to the sophisticated, postmodernist reworkings of the present day, the fairy tale has retained its powerful hold over the cultural imagination of Europe and North America for centuries. The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales provides an authoritative reference s...

Includes pointers to the study of French literature and its background

The Oxford Companion to Irish History offers a radically new introduction, comprehensive yet accessible, to all aspects of the history of this fascinating and complex land.

The literature of Ireland displays an exceptional richness and diversity - whether in Irish or English, by native Irish and Anglo-Irish writers or by outsiders like Edmund Spenser whose works were deeply imbued with the country in which he lived and wrote. In over 2,000 entries, the Companion to ...

Covers every imaginable aspect of the seas and the vessels that sail on them, from exploration, steam propulsion, and tidal power to marine wildlife and archaeology; from the key figures, both real and fictional, associated with the oceans, to piracy, sea

Over 800 biographical entries on photographers and major figures who have influenced photographic culture from the early 19th century to the present. Illustrated with classic iconic photographs, and important images that are less well known.

This book is based on the Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance, & covers styles and movements, buildings, organizations, regions and traditions; it has a particularly strong focus on biographies of actors, playwrights, directors, and designers