Between dictionaries and encyclopedias lies a species of reference book in which you will find concise surveys of terms and topics relating to a specific subject. The articles are generally longer than dictionary entries but more concise than those found in encyclopedias. Handbooks and companions can be a great help in clearing up the questions that a research project can generate. What is fabianism? What is the novel Bleak House about? What films have been made about angels? Which animals practice mimicry as a defense mechanism? Check with a reference librarian to see if there are specialized handbooks for your topic. The following list gives an idea of the variety of handbooks and companions that may be available in your library:
- Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Thought
- Bloomsbury Guide to Women's Literature
- Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
- Dictionary of Afro-American Slavery
- Dictionary of the Vietnam War
- Halliwell's Filmgoer's Companion
- Oxford Companion to Animal Behaviour
- Oxford Companion to English Literature
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