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Book Review Sources - Research Guide

Book reviews offer critical reaction to a work, usually within a year or two of its publication. Reviews vary in length and authority but can occasionally be long scholarly essays on a work, an author, or a subject. More often, book reviews supply a summary of the book's content and the reviewer's reactions to it.

This is a selective bibliography of sources for reviews of works in the social sciences and humanities, including some major book reviewing periodicals in various disciplines. Search Franklin under the subject books reviews periodicals to identify additional book review sources

To find a book review it is useful to know the title, the author, and the date of publication of the book. Franklin, the Penn Library Catalog or WorldCat can provide this information.

Indexes (print and online) that cover book reviews:

Multidisciplinary Databases that index Book Reviews

EBSCO Megafile.
A combined index of EBSCO's Academic Search Premier and Masterfile Premier. Indexes both scholarly journals and popular periodicals. Strong from 1990s forward, although many titles are indexed back further. To limit to book reviews, choose Document Type: book review.

JSTOR.
Full-text database of the backfile of many scholarly journals in many fields. For book reviews, choose: Advanced Search and check the box for Reviews.

ISI Citation Indexes.
The ISI Citation Indexes include the Science, Social Science and Arts & Humanities Citation Indexes. The database covers journals in the social sciences, arts & humanities, and social sciences. To find book reviews, limit your search to document type "Book Review."

LexisNexis Academic
Full text of many newspapers and magazines.

Periodicals Contents Index.
Indexes periodicals in the humanities and social sciences, from their first issues to about 1995. The scope is international. To locate book reviews, choose Article Search, then check Book reviews of the right of the search screen.

Readers' Guide Retrospective.
Covers 1890 to 1983. Also in print Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature: [Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: AI3 .R48], 1900-1993.

19th Century Masterfile
Provides indexing to nineteenth century periodicals, books, newspapers, and government documents. The main index is Poole's Index to Periodical Literature (1802-1906) and Stead's Index to Periodicals (1890-1902).

Book Review Indexes

Book Review Index, 1965-. Detroit: Gale, 1966-.
Indexes all reviews in about 215 English-language journals, including reviews of fiction, non-fiction and children's books. Monthly with quarterly and annual cumulations. Comprehensive index.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: Z1035 .A1 B6]

Book Review Digest Retrospective
Covers book reviews from 1905-1982. Citations with excerpts of reviews of English-language juvenile and adult fiction and nonfiction books published or distributed in the U.S. which appear in at least 2 [4 for fiction] of 75 journals. The reviews originate in a group of selected periodicals in the humanities, social sciences, and general science published in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.
Also in Print: [Van Pelt Library Reference: Z1219 .C96], 1906- present.

Magill Book Reviews
Provide summaries of classic literature as well as current best sellers with 500 new reviews added each year.

New York Review of Books, 1963-
Full-text of the NYRB. Access to some of the content is limited due to copyright restrictions.

Times Literary Supplement, 1902-1990
A weekly book review journal of international stature that has been published in London since 1902. Though it focuses on current British publications, its coverage is worldwide.

Times Literary Supplement, 1994-

Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Scholarly Journals, 1886-1974. Arlington, Va.: Carrollton, 1979-1982. 15 volumes.
Index by author name to book reviews in 459 scholarly journals in history, political science, and sociology. Short notices as well as full-length reviews included. Reviewers' names not given. See also Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Humanities Journals (below).
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: Z1035 .A1 C64]

Current Book Review Citations. 1976-82. N.Y.: Wilson. Annual. In 2 parts: Part 1 cites book reviews by author; Part 2 by title.
Covers non-fiction [including science and law], fiction, foreign-language titles, and new editions. Citations include name of reviewer.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: Z1035 .A1 C86]

National Library Service Cumulative Book Review Index, 1905-1974. Princeton, NJ: 1975.
Six-volume [3 alphabetically by author, 3 by title] cumulative index to reviews cited in Book Review Digest plus those published in Saturday Review [192-1974], Library Journal [1907-1974], and Choice [1969-1974].
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: Z1035 .A1 N38]

Humanities - General

Art & Humanities Citation Index (ISI Citation Databases).
To find book reviews, use the Advanced Search and limit to document type "Book Review."

Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Humanities Journals, 1802-1974. Woodbridge, Ct.: Research Publications, 1982-84. 10 volumes.
Index by author name to reviews from 157 journals.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: Z1035 .A1 C62]

Humanities Index. V. 1-17, 1974-91. N.Y.: Wilson.
Separate "Book Reviews" section at end of volume.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: AI3 .H852]

Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities. V. 1-31, 1960-90. Detroit: P. Thomson.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: Z1035 A1 I63], v.1 (1960)-v.31 (1990)
Cites popular and scholarly books in English and foreign languages; covers art and architecture, biography, personal narratives, drama, dance, folklore, music, philosophy, etc. Citations given by means of code number which refers to list at beginning of volume.

Social Sciences - General

Social Sciences Citation Index (ISI Citation Databases).
To find book reviews, use the Advanced Search and limit to document type "Book Review."

International Bibliography of the Social Sciences.
Indexes books and journals in anthropology, economics, political science, and sociology. International coverage. ProQuest interface has a Review limit, for CSA type: review in the publication type field.

Social Sciences Index. V. 1-19, April 1974-93. N.Y.: Wilson.
Separate "Book Review" section at end of volume.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: AI3 .S624], 1974-1993

Book Review Index to Social Science Periodicals. V. 1-4. Ann Arbor, Mich. :Perian, 1978-81.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: Z7161 .B7], v.1-4
Covers reviews from 1964-74 in 4 volumes. Indexes all book reviews from approximately 250 journals. Arranged alphabetically by author. Includes archaeology, history, economics, education, political science, sociology, geography, area studies, international relations, consumer affairs, etc. Includes foreign-language titles.

Anthropology

Annual Review of Anthropology. Palo Alto, Calif.: Annual Reviews.
Describes and evaluates recent publications. International in coverage. Author and subject indexes.

Reviews in Anthropology.
Long, detailed reviews of new books.

Art

Art Index Retrospective 1929-1984
Choose document type: book review.
Print [Fine Arts Library Reference: Z5937 .A78 (1929-1992) & Museum Reference (1929-1988)]From November 1973 separate "Book Review" section at end of volume.

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals
Covers 1977 to the present. For ProQuest interface choose document type: book review; for CSA choose publication type: book review. Indexes periodicals published worldwide on archaeology, city planning, interior design, and historic preservation, as well as architecture.

Bibliography of the History of Art. Palo Alto, Calif.: Research Libraries Information Network.
Covers European and American art from late antiquity to the present. Indexes and abstracts art-related books, conference proceedings and dissertations, exhibition and dealer's catalogs, and journal articles. Use the Advanced Search mode with "review" as a keyword.

caa reviews.
critical reviews of books, exhibitions, and projects in all areas and periods of art history and visual studies

Education

Education Index
Covers 1983 forward. Includes references to books reviews in the journals indexed. Choose document type: Book Review.

Education Index Retrospective
Covers 1929-1983. Choose document type: Book Review.

Educational studies : a journal of the American Educational Studies Association.
Each issue has book reviews.

Film Studies

Film Literature Index Online
Choose Document Type: book reviews

History

America: History and Life.
Covers history of US and Canada from colonial times to the present. Choose document type: Book Review/.

Historical Abstracts.
Covers world history, excluding US and Canada, from 1450 to the present. Choose document type: Book Review/.

19th Century Masterfile
Provides indexing to nineteenth century periodicals, books, newspapers, and government documents. Includes Poole's Index to Periodical Literature (1802-1906) and Stead's Index to Periodicals (1890-1902).

C.R.I.S. : The Combined Retrospective Index Set to Journals in History, 1838-1974. Executive editor, Annadel N. Wile, assistant editor, Deborah Purcell ; with an introd. and user's guide by Evan I. Farber. Washington : Carrollton Press, 1977-1978.
Indexes over 500 journals in history, political science, and sociology. Arranged by topic, keyword and author indexes.
[Van Pelt Library Reference: D1 .C18]

Brewster, John W. Index to Book Reviews in Historical Periodicals. 1973-77. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow.
Arranged alphabetically by author with title index. Cites reviews in nearly 100 scholarly journals. Includes some foreign-language books if reviews are in English.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: D1 .B74]

Reviews in American History. V. 1- , March 1973- . Westport, Conn.: Redgrave Information Resources. Reviews in American History from Project Muse. Reviews in American History from JSTOR.

History of Science

History of Science,Technology, and Medicine (HST).
Bibliography for the history of science and technology. HST includes citations to journal articles from over 600 journals, conference proceedings, books, book reviews, and dissertations.

ISIS.
Each issue has a section of book reviews.

Language

Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts. Norwood, Mass.
For Pro!uest, search document type: book review; for CSA search publication type book review

Linguistic Bibliography = Bibliographie Linguistique. 1939-. The Hague, Boston: M. Nijhoff.
Review references follow entries for books reviewed and are indicated by vertical slash. Includes author index.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: P121 .B425]

Literature

Eichelberger, Clayton L. A Guide to Critical Reviews of United States Fiction, 1870-1910. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1971- . Library has volumes 1-2.
Arranged alphabetically by author. Separate title index. Lists reviews of American books in U.S., Canadian, and British periodicals.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: Z1225 .E35]

Hall, Herbert W. Science Fiction Book Review Index, 1923-1973. Detroit: Gale, 1975.
Hall, Herbert W. Science Fiction Book Review Index, 1974-1979. Detroit: Gale, 1981.
Hall, Herbert W. Science Fiction Book Review Index, 1980-1984. Detroit: Gale, 1985.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: PN3433.8 .H35]
Provides access to science fiction and fantasy book reviews published in over 230 science fiction periodicals. Arranged alphabetically by author, with books listed alphabetically by title under author's name. Codes used for magazines indexed. Includes title index.

Literary Writings in America: A Bibliography. Millwood, NY : KTO Press, 1977. 8 volumes.
Covers American literature written between 1850 and 1940. Sources include over 2000 volumes of magazines, over 500 volumes of literary history and criticism, and more than 100 bibliographies. "All book reviews have been listed under the name of the reviewers ... and under the name of the author of the book reviewed." This is an excellent source for 19th-century book reviews.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: PS88 .L53]

Reiman, Donald H. The Romantics Reviewed: Contemporary Reviews of British Romantic Writers. New York : Garland, 1972. 3 v. in 9.
[Van Pelt Library: PR590 .R43]
Contains the texts of all contemporary British periodical reviews of the first editions [from 1793 -1824] of the works by Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, and Keats. Also included are reviews of other important writers such as Leigh Hunt, Robert Southey, and William Godwin. Although this index primarily covers reviews of poetry, reviews of books such as Mary Wollenstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein are included.

Ward, William Smith. Literary Reviews in British Periodicals, 1789-1797: A Bibliography. New York : Garland, 1979.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: PR442 .W34]
Reviews are listed by the author of the work reviewed, with anonymous works entered by title under the heading "Anonymous." Supplements the above.

Ward, William Smith. Literary Reviews in British Periodicals, 1798-1820: A Bibliography. New York : Garland, 1972. 2 vols.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: PR442 .W343]
Indexes reviews to literary works from British periodicals and two newspapers. Arranged alphabetically by author, then chronologically by publication date of work under review.

Ward, William Smith. Literary Reviews in British Periodicals, 1821-1826: A Bibliography. New York : Garland, 1977.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: PR453 .W37]
Continues the above.

Bibliographie der Rezensionen=International Bibliography of Book Reviews (IBR). 77 vols., 1900-1943. Leipzig: Dietrich, 1901-1944.
Index to reviews in 3000+ German-language serials from 1901 until 1911 and from 1911 to 1943 [except 1916-1924]. German and non-German serials. By 1943, 5000 German and 4000 other titles were indexed, including 50 newspapers. Indexes some English-language titles not included in Book Review Digest.
[Van Pelt Library: AI9 .B6]

Internationale Bibliographie der Rezensionen Wissenschaftlicher Literatur=International Bibliography of Book Reviews of Scholarly Literature. Osnabruck: Dietrich, 1971-.
Published in four sections: A - index of periodicals consulted [4000+]; B - classified subject index [in German, with references from English and French equivalents] of book reviews; C - index of book reviews by reviewed authors; D - index of book reviews by reviewer. International; major western language journals; all subjects, including scientific ones.
[Check Franklin for holdings]

Music

Music Index.
Covers 1979 to the present. Choose document type: Book Review
Also in print: [Van Pelt Library Marian Anderson Music Study Center: ML118 .M84], 1949-present.

RILM Abstracts of Music Literature.
Index to works on music from all over the world. Includes books. Choose document type: Review of book

Philosophy

Philosopher's Index.
Covers 1940 - present. Philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, logic, aesthetics. Chose Publication Type: book review

Political Science

Review of Politics
Each issue includes a section of book reviews.

C.R.I.S. : The Combined Retrospective Index Set to Journals in History, 1838-1974. Executive editor, Annadel N. Wile, assistant editor, Deborah Purcell ; with an introduction and user's guide by Evan I. Farber. Washington : Carrollton Press, 1977-1978.
Indexes over 500 journals in history, political science, and sociology. Arranged by topic, keyword and author indexes.
[Van Pelt Library Reference Stacks: D1 .C18]

Psychology

Contemporary Psychology V. 1-, January 1956-. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Mental Health Book Review Index. V. 1-17, 1956-1972. N.Y.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: Z6664 .N5 M49], v.1(1956)-v.17(1972). Arranged alphabetically by author. Indexes book reviews in English language journals. Includes psychology, social work, criminology and education. Continued by Chicorel Index to Mental Health Book Reviews.

Chicorel Index to Mental Health Book Reviews. 1976-78. N.Y.: Chicorel.
Arranged by title, with author, editor and subject indexes. Cites reviews in professional journals. Continues Mental Health Book Review Index.
[Van Pelt Library Stacks: RA790 .A1 C454], 1976-1978

Religion

ATLA Religion Database.
Covers 1949 to the present. Indexes major journals in religion. Choose publication type: review

Review of Biblical Literature.
See separate Search Reviews link on the left sidebar.

Sociology

Sociological Abstracts.
Covers 1963 to the present. For ProQuest choose document type: book review; for CSA choose publication type: book review

Contemporary Sociology.
Publishes reviews and critical discussions of recent works in sociology and related disciplines that merit the attention of sociologists.

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