The Literary
Encyclopedia – see: www.litencyc.com - was founded at the
University of East Anglia in 1999 and now offers a large number of
profiles (often of some
2000-3000 words) of literary (and selected other) authors, as well as
important individual works, and literary/cultural topics. Since 2002
essays have been appearing on Nabokov (under the editorship of Neil
Cornwell, who also has general responsibility for entries on Russian
literature; and for those on Henry James). So far over 20 VN entries
have appeared, covering most of the main works. Further entries are in
the pipeline and a ‘Timelines’ Nabokov feature is also to be installed.
There is limited free access to The Literary Encyclopedia (which includes the first 600 words of essays); personal membership exists at a very reasonable rate; and increasing numbers of academic libraries are taking out institutional subscriptions.