The study of literature is important across subjects and disciplines. Novels, short stories, poems, and nonfiction are essential ways people express themselves and understand the world around them. There are many authors and works that are studied by students, like William Shakespeare or To Kill a Mockingbird. The authors and works represented here are among those most commonly studied and searched for by students. Explore the articles below to read biographies and overviews, learn more about themes and essay topics, and consider criticism and analysis of authors and works.

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This section was originally created by our North America office, so much of the content at launch is focused on U.S. and Canadian perspectives. Check back regularly as we add more International content to this section over the coming months.