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University Library

LibGuides

Italian Studies: Literature

Finding Books

Step One: UIUC Online Library Catalog

There are two ways to search the UIUC Library catalog. Both offer the same content but the method of searching and presentation of results varies.

  1. Through the new Primo Library Catalog. This catalog requires you to register with a login and a password to request materials. It also lets you search books in I-share (see below for more details.)
  2. Through the Library Easy Search. This interface lets you search the UIUC catalog for books, articles, journals and media. . 

Getting the actual book: When you locate your item you have two choices.

Print books

You can request the item and pick it up at any of the departmental libraries. Or, you can retrieve the book yourself from either the main stacks or the departmental library where the book is located. If you choose this option, make sure you jot down the location and call number of the item.

Electronic Books

Access will depend on the publisher. In some case you will be able to download full books via PDF. In others you might be able only to view the book online. In all cases the Library follow the publisher's requirements.

What if my book is not in the UIUC Online Library Catalog?

Step Two: I-Share

Once you have verified that the book you are looking for is either not located in the UIUC catalog or all copies are checked out, you may order it through Primo Library Catalog and selecting "All I-share Libraries." Items typically arrive within 5-10 days and you will receive an email when the item is available for pick up.

What if my book is not available in I-Share?

Step Three: Interlibrary Loan

If the item is not available in the UIUC catalog or through I-Share, then your next stop will be Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery. First, keep your full citation handy -- you'll need it. Second, login to the ILLiad server using your NetID and password. From the ILLiad main menu, select "Request a Book." Be sure to fill out as much of the form as possible, including the source of your citation. This will ensure that ILL can place your request in a timely manner. You'll be notified by email when your item is ready to be picked up.

WorldCat -You can search WorldCat to find books on your topic, which might not be in the UIUC nor the I-share catalog. Once you find a title of interest, you can order it through Interlibrary Loan

More Help with the Library Catalog

Relevant Databases

The MLA International Bibliography presents detailed information on more than 7,100 periodicals in the areas of literature, language, linguistics, and folklore, with 4,400 currently indexed in the MLA International Bibliography.

 LCO covers a range of modern and historical views on authors and their works across regions, eras and genres, offering tens of thousands of hard-to-find critical essays.

LRC is a searchable database of full-text articles, essays, book reviews, plot summaries, poems, short stories, plays, and interviews with contemporary writers.

Project Muse provides full-text access to over 200 scholarly journals in the following fields: literature and criticism, history, visual and performing arts, cultural studies, education, and many others.

JSTOR provides page images of back issues of the core scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and basic sciences from the earliest issues to within a few years of current publication. Users may browse by journal title or discipline, or may search the full-text or citations/abstracts. New issues of existing titles and new titles are added approximately on a weekly basis.

Encyclopedias & Surveys

Seminal Works

Italian Literary Awards

There are two major literary awards in Italy:

The Premio Strega is the most prestigious award, given out annually for the best prose fiction published in Italian. 

The Premio Campiello is an annual literary award celebrating Italian fiction. 

Popular Fiction

Popular fiction in Italy takes a variety of forms; popular genres include the likes of fantasy and science fiction, historical fiction, and romance. Italy, though, has one genre that's particularly popular: the mystery, or il giallo.

The term, giallo (meaning yellow in Italian), specifically refers to Italian mystery fiction, named for a series of inexpensive paperback mystery novels with yellow covers. The genre has elements of the thriller and horror genres, mixed with the typical detective/crime novel. In addition to its popularity in literature, the giallo also influenced film, with murder mysteries and horror flicks growing in popularity in the 20th century.

Graphic Novels & Fumetti