The Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of World Literature is a resource for students who

seek information beyond the simple biographical details of an author’s life or a brief

overview of the author’s major works. This book is designed to offer a comprehensive

view of how an author’s work fits within the context of the author’s life, historical

events, and the literary world. This allows for a greater understanding of both the

author’s work and the cultural and historical environment in which it was created.

The Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of World Literature is divided into entries,

each focused on a particular writer who has made significant contributions to world

literature. In some cases, these individuals may be known primarily for contributions

outside the realm of literature. Karl Marx and Mohandas Gandhi, for example, are

two figures famous for their political activism; in another realm, Jean Cocteau and

Pier Paolo Pasolini are two writers better known in modern times for their groundbreaking

work in film. However, all of these figures have, aside from their other

accomplishments, created significant works of literature that have stood the test of

time and affected readers beyond the borders of their own cultures.

This book is best used not just to locate the facts of a writer’s life and work, but as a

way to understand the social, literary, and historical environment in which the writer lived

and created. By understanding the context of the writer’s work, you are more likely to

recognize key themes and stylistic traits as elements of larger trends in the literary world, as

well as understand the impact of historical events from a new and unique perspective.