Reference Source Analysis Week 6: 400’s & 800’s Quarter: Spring 2009 Carrie Dumar

Reference Source AnalysisWeek 6: 400’s & 800’sQuarter: Spring 2009Carrie Dumar

Call Number • Call number: 809.3MAS • ISBN: 9781843535164 (pbk.) • The rough guide to classic novels

Bibliographic Citation • Mason, Simon. The rough guide to classic novels. 1st. London, New York: Rough Guides, 2008. Print.

Arrangement • Contents • Preface • Twelve chapters • Index • Themed boxes • Acknowledgements • About the author

Indexing • Alphabetize by authors name and book titles

Scope • A guide to Classic novels from a variety of Authors

Dates range from 1604 to 2002. • Chapters organized by subject • Listed by Authors • Title of Book and date • Where to go next • Screen adaptation • Recommended translation

Currency • First edition – 2008 • One year old

Intended Purpose • “In The Rough Guide to Classic Novels the emphasis is on precisely this quality. There are no novels chosen here simply for their worthiness or their prominence in literary history. All merit their inclusion by being, first and foremost, great pleasure-givers.” Simon Mason April 2008

Additional Purposes • A short review of a novel • Expand reading knowledge • Explore classic novels in other subjects • An artist’s desire to be inspired by a classic novel

Format • Pages: 370 • Size: 17 cm • Illustrations

Special Features • Green bubbles on additional information on the subject • A sentence or two from the book • Additional recommend books • Novel sequences listed

Authority • “…The book is cleverly divided into themes, such as Love, Family, War and so on, and includes novels by non-English language writers. Next to each entry is a 'where to go next' and 'screen adaptations' section, both of which are hugely useful, and thoroughly intelligent…. “Dr. Allan G. Hunter author of 'Stories We Need To Know' and 'The Six Archetypes of Love' www.allanhunter.net • “…In some ways this seems to be exactly the premise of The Rough Guide to Classic Novels. The blurb encourages us to treat the guide as a map through unknown territory, helping us to expand the landscapes of the mind. But Mason's clever plotting makes this a good book for those who have already travelled to these parts. …” The Times review by Margaret Reynolds April 25, 2008

Personal Impression • This is a book that I would like to add to my personal collection. The mini reviews were great and informative. I also liked the suggestions of the additional books. The illustrations of some of the covers is a plus in the presentation of the review.

Examples • Looking for a novel about “Families” • Go to chapter two – “Families • Skim the twenty reviews • Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence • Searching for Novels of the Great War • Go to the Themed boxes • Novels of the Great War – page 206 • Review the six books listed

Complementary • How to read a novel : a user's guide / John Sutherland. by Sutherland, John, 1938- • Why not Catch 21? : the stories behind the titles / Gary Dexter. by Dexter, Gary • Reading like a writer : a guide for people who love books and for those who want to write them / Francine Prose. by Prose, Francine, 1947-

Reference Source Analysis Week 6: 400’s & 800’s Quarter: Spring 2009 Carrie Dumar