Classifying Works by and about Individual Pre-20th-Century Literary Authors:

A.  Introduction

This document covers general principles and available patterns of LC classification for pre-20th-century literary authors and anonymous works.  It assumes an understanding of classification for 20th-century literary authors and focusses on differences in classifying works by and about authors of earlier periods.

For 20th-century authors, see:

• “Classifying Works by and about Individual Literary Authors of the 20th Century:  An Introduction”

• “Verifying and Assigning Classification and Call Numbers for 20th Century Literary Authors”

For additional information on the classification of literary works, see also the Library of Congress Subject Cataloging Manual:  Classification, “Literary Authors” and “Literary Authors:  Subarrangement of Works” (F632-633).

A general theme of this document is the potential complexity of classifying pre-20th century works and works about pre-20th-century authors and works.  Along with this, a general message:  Please do not despair!  Rely on the classification schedules and tables whenever necessary and possible.  If you have any questions, please ask for help!

Please note:  The form of an author’s name as listed in the class schedules may or may not match the current AACR2 heading form for that author.  If the difference is significant, cross-references are often provided.  In the examples in this document, the fuller and more “informative” heading is generally used (marked with an asterisk in the examples in this section).

E.g.

AACR2:		Dumas, Alexandre, 1802-1870
PQ schedule:		Dumas, Alexandre, père, 1802-1870*
AACR2:		Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400*
PR schedule:		Chaucer, Geoffrey
AACR2:		Euripides
PA schedule:		Euripides, ca. 481-406 B.C.*
AACR2:		Bede, the Venerable, Saint, 673-735*
PA schedule:		Beda Venerabilis, 673-735
AACR2:		Julius Modestus, 1st cent.
PA schedule:		Modestus, Julius (grammarian), 1st cent. A.D.*

Exception:  Headings that are fuller simply due to unused forenames are not used.

E.g.

AACR2:	Schiller, Friedrich, 1759-1805*
PT schedule:	Schiller, Johann Christoph Friedrich, 1759-1805
	(author generally known as Friedrich Schiller)
AACR2:	Chateaubriand, François-René, vicomte de, 1768-1848*
PQ schedule:	Chateaubriand, François Auguste René, vicomte de, 1768-1848
	(2nd forename Auguste not generally used)

B.  General principles

The goal of LC classification to keep together all literary works by a single author in a single language applies to earlier as well as 20th-century authors.  Similarly, literary class numbers for pre-20th-century authors are also structured based on:

• Language
• Nationality
• Period of writing.

C.  Distinctive features of classification for pre-20th-century authors

A critical difference for pre-20th-century authors, in contrast with the single class number that 20th-century authors have, including a first cutter (cf. “Classifying Works by and about Individual Literary Authors of the 20th Century:  An Introduction,” First cutter):

A pre-20th-century author may have:

• Range of class numbers:  ranging from 2 up to over 100.

  E.g.	Caxton, William, ca. 1422-1491	PR 1847-1848	(2 numbers)
  E.g.	Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400	PR 1850-1954	(105 numbers)
  E.g.	Dumas, Alexandre, père, 1802-1870	PQ 2221-2230	(10 numbers)
  E.g.	Sand, George, 1804-1876	PQ 2393-2420	(28 numbers)
  E.g.	Euripides, ca. 481-406 B.C.	PA 3973-3992	(20 numbers)

• Single class number

  E.g.	Andrew, of Wyntoun	PR 1812
  E.g.	Chateaubriand, François-René, vicomte de, 1768-1848	PQ 2205
  E.g.	Callimachus, fl. between 310 and 240 B.C.	PA 3945

• Class number plus cutter (similar in appearance to numbers for 20th-century authors; generally for more obscure earlier authors or those who wrote only one surviving work).

  E.g.	Metham, John, fl. 1448	PR 2063 .M34
  E.g.	Bonnetain, Paul, 1858-1899	PQ 2198 .B38
  E.g.	Heliodorus, of Emesa, 2d cent. A.D. Aethiopica lib. X	PA 3998.H2
  	[the author and his single known work are listed on the same line in the PA schedule]

There are therefore many more possible patterns that literary class and call numbers can follow.  Collected and separate individual titles may span a range of numbers, even including a range of numbers for an individual title.

E.g.

Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400
	Collected works	PR 1850-1851
	...
	Separate works
	...
	Canterbury tales	PR 1865-1875
	...
	Troilus and Criseyde	PR 1895-1896
	...

E.g.

Dumas, Alexandre, père, 1802-1870
	Collected works	PQ 2221
	....
	Separate works
	...
	Les deux reines	PQ 2227 .D53
	...

E.g.

Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321
	Complete works	PQ 4300 .A1
	...
	Separate works
	...
	Purgatorio	PQ 4306
		[range of cutters for complete text, selections, particular cantos, etc.]
	...
	Translations
	...
	English
	...
	Purgatorio	PQ 4315.3-4315.37
	...
	French
	...
	Purgatorio	PQ 4316.3-4316.37

Biography (including autobiography) and literary criticism about a particular author may also be found under multiple numbers.  There may be one number or number range for works combining biography and criticism, another number or number range for works that are predominantly biographical, and yet another number or number range for works that are predominantly critical.

E.g.

Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400
	...
	Criticism and interpretation
	General works	PR 1924
	...
	Plots. Scenes. Time, etc.	PR 1931
	...

E.g.

Sand, George, 1804-1876
	...
	Biography
	Autobiography. Journals, Memoirs	PQ 2412 .A2
	Letters	PQ 2413.A3-.A4
	...
	Homes and haunts	PQ 2415
	...

E.g.

Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321
	...
	Biography
	...
	Birth (date and place)	PQ 4348
	...
	Banishment. Exile	PQ 4352
	...
	Criticism and interpretation
	...
	Relation to special subjects
	...
	Geography
	General	PQ 4425
	Special	PQ 4425.5
	...
	Other, A-Z
	...
	Florence	PQ 4432 .F53
	...
	Zoology	PQ 4432 .Z7

Some types of patterns (such as treatment of anonymous works or degree of reliance on external tables) vary based on the class schedule.

Because of the complex variety of patterns that may be found, unless there is a very clear pattern in our shelflist, it is safest to consult sources in addition to the shelflist when cataloguing works by and about pre-20th-century literary authors.

D.  Sources to consult

The following sources often need to be consulted in conjunction with each other:

1. Shelflist:  Perform a call number search as usual to check a call number present in your bib record.  (Cf. “Verifying Call Numbers in the Shelflist (When Cataloguing).”)  If the classification number clearly fits into an existing pattern, you may stop.  For example, if your book includes the complete works of an author, and the call number would interfile with several other editions of that author’s complete works, with the same class number and cutter, distinguished only by date, you may accept the number without further searching.  A call number for a general biography that would interfile with several other general biographies that have the same class number and are cuttered by main entry may be accepted, once any necessary sliding of the main entry cutter has been done.

   If there is no clear pattern, continue checking:

2. Class schedules:  To find the appropriate area of the schedules for each author, apply the following basic criteria:
   • Language:  Include stages of a language under the modern language (e.g., Middle English is under English, in PR).  As with 20th-century literature, an author who wrote in more than one language is generally assigned a separate, valid class number for each language.  You need to ascertain the language of the original edition of each work to determine the appropriate class number for any given work.

     Some exceptions:  Even though Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, and Giovanni Boccaccio wrote works in both Italian and Latin, all of their works are classified under PQ, for Italian.  (Cross-references to some of the appropriate PQ numbers are provided in the PA schedule.)  Within the PQ range for each author, specific sections apply to the Latin works, as well as to translations and criticisms of them.

   • Nationality or cluster of nationalities (e.g., German-speaking European countries).  The concept of nationality is naturally often vaguer for ancient and mediaeval authors than for modern ones.  Fortunately, the schedule ranges for ancient and mediaeval European literature tend to group together authors writing in a given language, such as Latin or German, regardless of the country where that author’s place of residence would be located today.

   • Period of writing:  sometimes based on broad categories such as “Mediaeval” or spans of over a century (e.g., “1500-1700"; “1700-ca. 1860/70"), and sometimes based on centuries.  The period designations vary depending on the schedule and schedule section.  If an author’s birth and death dates span two periods, it may be necessary to decide when most of her or his works were probably written or to check more than one period range.

   E.g.     Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400:

   • wrote in Middle English:        in PR, PS, PZ class schedule volume

   • English nationality:        in PR

   • wrote during the later mediaeval period:

     within range PR1803-2165 (Anglo-Norman period; Early English; Middle English); listed in alphabetical sequence by author or anonymous title

   • filed in the “C”s, under:    1850-1954

   E.g.     Dumas, Alexandre, père, 1802-1870

   • wrote in French:         in PQ class schedule, in range PQ 1-3999

   • French nationality:         within range PQ 1300-2686, for European French-language authors

   • wrote during the 19th century:

     within range PQ2149-2551 (19th-century authors and works); listed in alphabetical sequence by author

   • filed in the “D”s, under:         PQ 2221-2230

   E.g.     Stendhal, 1783-1842

   • wrote in French:         in PQ class schedule, in range PQ 1-3999

   • French nationality:         within range PQ 1300-2686, for European French-language authors

   • wrote during the 19th century -- even though born in the 18th century:

     within range PQ2149-2551 (19th-century authors and works); listed in alphabetical sequence by author

   • filed in the “S”s, under:         PQ 2435-2444

   E.g.     Bembo, Pietro, Cardinal, 1470-1547

   • wrote in both Italian and Latin:         in PA and PQ class schedule volumes

   • Venetian citizen, generally of Italian “nationality”:
     • PA:  nationality not relevant
     • PQ:  within range PQ 4265-4886, for European Italian-language authors

   • wrote during the Renaissance, 16th century:
     • PA:  within range PA 8450-8595 (modern Latin-language authors, 1350- ); listed in alphabetical sequence by author or anonymous title
     • PQ:  within range PQ 4561-4664 (authors and works 1400-1700); listed in alphabetical sequence by author

   • filed in the “B”s, under:
     • PA 8475 .B5
     • PQ 4608
     [a cross-reference under each number leads to the other number]

   E.g.     Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321

   • wrote in both Italian and Latin:         exception:  only in PQ class schedule volume

   • Florentine citizen, generally of Italian “nationality”:

     PQ:         within range PQ 4265-4886, for European Italian-language authors

   • wrote during the mediaeval period:

     PQ:         within range PQ 4265-4556 (authors and works to 1400); listed in alphabetical sequence by author

   • filed in the “D”s, under:         PQ 4300-4464; within this range, separate ranges for Latin works

   LC’s Cataloger’s Desktop (see also general instructions for using Cat. Desktop): Open the appropriate schedule volume for your author, based on language, in Document (or Browse) view. Template approach: Click on the Query Template 1 (binoculars icon with “1") and key in: Class number, if you know it (it needs to match the number or number span that appears in the window towards the right of the query box) or Author’s name, in the Caption Keyword box: surname (works best if surname is fairly distinctive in that class schedule) General Search approach: Use the Search function (Shift-F2) and key in: Class number, if you know it or Author’s name: surname, adding forename if necessary to avoid too many hits With the Query Template 1 class number search, you will get a single hit, if any; with a General Search class number search or any author search, you may get multiple hits. If there is a single hit, you will be taken directly to the appropriate highlighted entry in the detailed schedule listing. If there are multiple hits:  In the HitList, click the most useful-looking hit to reach the highlighted entry in the detailed schedule listing. Scan the hierarchy in the Reference window to confirm that the nationality and time period are appropriate. It is also possible to use the Search function in conjunction with the Contents view.

   Printed schedules:  When Cataloger’s Desktop is unavailable, the same information is available in the printed schedules.  Lacking, of course is the Search feature, and while individual authors are occasionally listed in the indexes to literature schedules, usually they are not listed.  On the other hand, the printed schedules can be useful for a quick scan of a broad section of the schedule.

   Once you have found the entry for an author:  Follow the relevant instructions for each author to find the appropriate class number for your literary or critical work.  Follow references to tables and consider the potential distinctions listed in section E. below, “Subarrangement of author’s works.”

3. Tables:  Whereas Table XL (P-PZ40) applies to call numbers for the great majority of 20th-century authors, for pre-20th-century authors there are a number of possible tables that may need to be consulted.  Tables include:
   • External tables, in the volume P-PZ Language and Literature Tables

   • Internal tables, within the same class schedule

   In the classification schedules in Cataloger’s Desktop, links are provided that take you directly to the appropriate external or internal tables.

   The class schedule entry for each author or for each period should specify the table to be used, when one applies.  When no table is specified for an individual author, check the beginning of the range for the time period, in case a “default” table should be used.  Information in the schedule may then supplement the table information.

   E.g.     Caxton, William, ca. 1422-1491                     PR 1847-1848

                   Subarrange by Table P-PZ36

   E.g.     Modestus, Julius (grammarian), 1st cent. A.D.             PA 6514 .M7

                   Subarrange by Table P-PZ38

   E.g.     Modern French literature

           Individual authors

                   19th century

                       Subarrange by Tables P-PZ39 or P-PZ40, unless otherwise specified

   Sometimes, one table will need to be consulted for the author, then another table for specific works by that author or other information.

   E.g.      Chateaubriand, François Auguste René, vicomte de, 1768-1848             PQ 2205

                   Subarrange by Table P-PZ39

     Within Table P-PZ39 (for authors with 1 class number):

               ...

               Separate works. By title                             0.A61-.Z48

                           Subarrange by Table P-PZ43

                                 [for separate works with successive cutter numbers]

   E.g.      Austen, Jane                                                     PR 4030-4038

                   Subarrange by Table P-PZ33

     Within Table P-PZ33 (for authors with 9 class numbers):

               ...

               Criticism

                       ...

                       Special, A-Z                                 8.A-.Z

                               For list of cutter numbers,

                               see Table P-PZ32 [for authors with 19 class numbers]

   As a slight variation, a table may not be used for the author but may be used for titles by that author.

   E.g.       Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400

               ...

               Troilus and Criseyde                                     PR 1895-1896

                     Subarrange by table below PR1877-1878

   [This section deals so far with when and how to get to tables.  There may be a separate document later on how to interpret tables.]

4. Reference works:  Generally consult reference works only to resolve problems, and then only after you have consulted with your trainer.

E.  Subarrangement of author’s works

Again, follow available instructions in the class schedule and any tables to determine the appropriate class number for a work within the subarrangement of works by and about a particular author.

Some potential distinctions to keep in mind that may affect classification:

1. Collected works; selections; works in one genre:  Try to distinguish editions of multiple works that constitute an author’s:
   • Complete published works

   • Complete published works in one genre, when the author wrote in multiple genres

   • Selected works in one genre or in multiple genres.  The same class number is often used for selected works either in one of multiple genres or in multiple genres, although sometimes these two categories are distinguished.

     In some cases, another distinction may be made between “Selected works” and “Selections.”  When both categories are listed for an author, “Selected works” would be used for the complete texts of selected works of the author, whereas “Selections” would be used for selected excerpts from multiple works.

   Because titles are sometimes uninformative or even misleading, you may need to look for information about an edition of multiple works in an introduction, a cover summary, or occasionally a table of contents.  The class schedules themselves sometimes provide helpful information such as a list of different genres in which an author wrote.  If you have any questions about the appropriate category, consult with your trainer.

   E.g.    Title:         Plays / Oscar Wilde

   Back cover:     “Three of Wilde’s best-known plays”

   As the cover summary indicates, this collection represents only a selection of the plays of Oscar Wilde (1854-1900).  The class schedule range for Wilde – PR 5810-5828 – includes the categories:  Complete works; Selected works; Selections, anthologies; Collected poems; Collected dramas; Collected prose works.  (Therefore, you know that he wrote in more than one genre, but there are no numbers for selected works in a particular genre.)

   In this case, the appropriate category would be:     Selected works:     PR 5811

   Title:         The wit and wisdom of Oscar Wilde : selected quotations

   Introduction:     “Epigrams and passages selected from his plays, short stories, essays, poems, and correspondence”

   In this case, the appropriate category would be: Selections, anthologies: PR 5812

   E.g.    Title:         The poems of Catullus

   Introduction:     “A translation of Catullus”

   The fact that the complete works of the Roman author Gaius Valerius Catullus are included is implied in the book’s introduction.  The PA schedule also lists only three categories of the works of Catullus:  Editions; Selections; Single poems.  In combination, the evidence points to this collection’s representing his complete works.  (In fact, the only surviving works of Catullus are poems.)

   In this case, the appropriate category would be:     Editions, by date:     PA 6274 .A2

2. General biographical and critical works; biography; criticism

   There may be separate class numbers or number ranges under works about a pre-20th-century literary author for:

   • Works combining biography and criticism
   • Works that are predominantly biographical
   • Works that are predominantly critical.

   In some cases, the first two categories are combined (i.e., predominantly biographical works are classed with the combined biographical and critical works) while predominantly critical works are classed separately.

   (Keep in mind that even if classification is not affected, the choice of subject headings and subdivisions will be affected by the nature of a work about an author.)

   Again, because titles are sometimes uninformative or even misleading, you may need to look for information about a biographical or critical work in an introduction, a cover summary, or occasionally a table of contents.  If you have any questions about the appropriate category, consult with your trainer.

   E.g.    Title:        The life and works of Friedrich Schiller

   The title makes fairly clear that this work about Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) is both biographical and critical in nature.  The class schedule range for Schiller – PT 2465-2499 – includes separate numbers for:

   Biography and criticism
   ...
   General treatises. Life and works	PT 2482.A5-.Z7
   ...
   Biographical details	PT 2483
   ...
   Criticism and interpretation
   ...
   General works. Treatises, etc.	PT 2492

   In this case, the appropriate category would be:

               Biography and criticism:  General treatises. Life and works:

                       PT 2482 (cuttered, from A5 through Z7, by main entry for the critic).

   E.g.    Title:        Jane Austen

   Series:        The British Library writers’ lives

   Back cover:        “This lively illustrated biography ... Jane’s family connections ... the social fabric of her world.”

   Both the series title and back cover description stress the biographical rather than critical aspect of this work about Jane Austen (1775-1817).  The class schedule range for Austen – PR 4030-4038 – refers to Table P-PZ33, which has separate numbers for:

               Biography, criticism, etc.

                       ...

                       General works            6.A5-.Z

               Criticism

                       General works            7

   In this case, the appropriate category would be:

               Biography, criticism, etc.:  General works:

                       PR 4036 (cuttered, from A5 onwards, by main entry for the biographer)

3. General criticism; criticism of specific topics

   Criticism of three or more aspects of a literary author’s works would generally be classified under general criticism. For many pre-20th-century authors, criticism of one particular aspect of their works can be classified under a more specific class number for that aspect. Criticism of two aspects would be classified under an available class number for the predominant aspect or the aspect discussed first.

   E.g.    Title:        Torquato Tasso : a collection of critical essays

   Back cover:

   “A range of studies of Tasso’s themes, narrative structure, characters, and style, not only in Gerusalemme liberata but also in his other poetry, drama, and prose”

   The title and cover description indicate that this work deals with several aspects of the works of Torquato Tasso (1544-1595).  The class schedule range for Tasso – PQ 4636-4661 – includes several separate numbers for criticism and interpretation, including:  General treatises; Works mainly on Gerusalemme liberata; Special topics, A-Z; Textual criticism; Language, style; Versification.

   In this case, the appropriate category would be:

               Criticism and interpretation:  General treatises:        PQ 4655

   E.g.    Title:        Schiller’s heroines? : the treatment of women in Schiller

   Introduction:        “An exploration of Schiller’s female characters”

   The title and introduction indicate that this work concentrates on a study of the women characters of Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805).  The class schedule range for Schiller – PT 2465-2499 – includes separate numbers for:

   ...
   Criticism and interpretation
   ...
   General works. Treatises, etc.	PT 2492
   Characters	PT 2493
   Including special groups, women, etc.
   ...

   In this case, the appropriate category would be:

               Criticism and interpretation:  Characters:            PT 2493

   E.g.    Title:        Music and myth in Hugo’s novels

   Table of contents:

   [shows entries for music, myth, and the relationship between the two; about equal amounts of emphasis and space devoted to each aspect, with music discussed first]

   The title and table of contents indicate that this work deals with both music and myth as two aspects of the works of Victor Hugo (1802-1885).  Neither aspect is predominant; music is discussed first.  The class schedule range for Hugo – PQ 2279-2307 – includes separate numbers for:

   ...
   Criticism and interpretation
   ...
   General works. Genius, etc.	PQ 2301
   Characters. Plots. Scenes. Time, etc.	PQ 2302
   Treatment and knowledge of special subjects, A-Z	PQ 2304 .A-.Z
   ...
   Music	PQ 2304 .M83
   Myth	PQ 2304 .M88
   ...

   In this case, the appropriate category would be:

               Criticism and interpretation:  Treatment and knowledge of special subjects:  Music:

                       PQ 2304 .M83

4. Criticism of a specific work

   Check the schedules to confirm the appropriate classification for critical works about a specific literary work by that author.  Sometimes, a critical work about a literary work is classified in a number derived from the number for the literary work itself.  In other cases, an entirely separate number is dedicated to critical works about a given literary work, even to specific aspects of that work.

   A reminder:  The form of title listed in the class schedule will generally be the uniform title of a work.

   E.g.    Title:        The hunchback of Notre Dame : a study / by Lou M. Griffin

   Back cover:        “This study of one of Hugo’s most beloved works”

   LC/NACO authority file:

               100 1  $a Hugo, Victor, $d 1802-1855. $t Notre-Dame de Paris. $l English

               400 1  $a Hugo, Victor, $d 1802-1855. $t Hunchback of Notre Dame

   The title and back cover indicate that this work is a critical study of Notre-Dame de Paris, by Victor Hugo (1802-1885).  The class schedule range for Hugo – PQ 2279-2307 – includes:

   ...
   Notre-Dame de Paris	PQ 2288
   Subarrange by Table P-PZ41

   Table P-PZ41, for separate works with 1 number, includes lines for texts, translations, and criticism:

   Texts
   By date	0.A1
   ...
   ...
   Criticism	0.A7-.Z

   In this case, the appropriate classification would be:

               Criticism:            PQ 2288 (cuttered under G for the main entry for the critic: Griffin, Lou M. (Lou Ming))

   E.g.    Title:        The religious voice in the Canterbury Tales

   The class number range for Geoffrey Chaucer (d. 1400) – PR 1850-1954 – includes a range for the Canterbury Tales that includes specific numbers for criticism of that work, in addition to numbers for criticism of multiple works by Chaucer:

   ...
   Canterbury tales	PR 1865-1875
   Texts
   By date	PR 1865
   ...
   Criticism
   General works	PR 1874
   Special topics, A-Z	PR 1875 .A-.Z
   ...
   Religion	PR 1875 .R45
   ...
   Criticism and interpretation
   General works	PR 1924
   ...
   Treatment and knowledge of special subjects, A-Z
   ...
   Religion	PR 1933 .R4
   ...

   In this case, the appropriate classification would be:

               Canterbury tales:  Criticism:  Special topics:  Religion:

                       PR 1875 .R45

   (The later “Religion” number, PR 1933 .R4, would be for studies of Chaucer’s treatment or knowledge of religion as reflected in multiple works.)

F.  Anonymous works

It is not uncommon for ancient, mediaeval, and early modern works to survive without clear information as to authorship, and more recent anonymous works also exist.  In some cases, no author at all is known, whereas in other cases, the authorship is in dispute.  When no author has been clearly attributed to a work, it is entered and classified under a uniform title.

E.g.    Beowulf        PR 1580-1588

E.g.    Aucassin et Nicolette        PQ 1426

E.g.    Von Reinicken Fuchs        PT 1701 .A1 V6

1. Patterns:  In many schedules and ranges, anonymous works follow basically the same approach as for individual authors, interfiled under language, nationality, and period.

   E.g.    Beowulf

   • written in Anglo-Saxon (Old English)        in PR, PS, PZ class schedule volume for English

   • unknown author Anglo-Saxon (precursor to English “nationality”):        in PR

   • written during the early mediaeval, Anglo-Saxon period:

     within range PR1509-1799 (Anglo-Saxon literature, individual authors and works); listed in alphabetical sequence by author or anonymous title

   • filed in the “B”s, under:        PR 1580-1588

     (Note that in this case, language, nationality, and period basically converge)

   In some cases, separate provisions are made for anonymous works at the beginning of a period range.

   E.g.    Modern French literature

               Individual authors

                       19th century

                               Anonymous works                        PQ 2149

                                       Subarrange by Table P-PZ28

   E.g.        German literature

               Individual authors or works

                       1500-ca. 1700

                               Anonymous works                        PT 1701

                                       Subarrange by Table P-PZ28

   In other cases, individual anonymous works are filed under the title of the cycle to which they belong or under a category into which they fit.

   E.g.

   Alexandre le Grand (Poems and romances)
   	Collections.  By date	PQ 1421 .A1
   	...
   	Translations (Collections).  By language	PQ 1421 .A4-A49
   	Roman d’Alexandre, by Lambert le Tort and Alexandre de Bernay	PQ 1421 .A5
   	...
   	Other poems
   	...
   	Prise de Defur	PQ 1421 .P7
   	...
   	Prose romances [in the Alexandre le Grand cycle]	PQ 1422
   	...

   E.g.

   Robin Hood
   	Class here ballads, chapbooks, etc., in verse
   	General works	PR2125
   	Prose versions, adaptations, imitations	PR2127
   	For juvenile literature, see PZ8.1
   	History and criticism	PR2129

   E.g.    English literature

   Anglo-Norman period. Early English.	Middle English
   	...
   	Metrical life of Christ	PR2063.M44
   	Metrical romances  [filed in sequence under “M”]
   	Collections	PR 2064
   	Special, A-Z	PR 2065 .A-.Z
   	...
   	Chevy chase	PR 2065 .C4
   	Subarrange by Table P-PZ43
   	...

   Note that not all anonymous works in cycles are filed under the cycle; some are filed under their individual titles, with a separate class number for the cycle as a whole.

   E.g.    Guillaume d’Orange (Cycle of Chansons de geste)

                       See also special chansons of the cycle:  e.g. PQ1453.C6, Couronnement de Louis;

                       PQ1459.E45, Enfances Guillaume; PQ1477.G8, Guillaume (Chanson de geste)

   Collections.  By date	PQ 1481 .A2
   Collections.  By editor	PQ 1481 .A3
   Translations.  By language, A-Z	PQ 1481 .A5-Z4
   Criticism	...

   Once again, unless there is a very clear pattern in our shelflist, it is safest to check the schedule in each case for the appropriate class number or number range and the class and call number pattern within each one.

2. Sources:  The methods for finding classification information for anonymous works in the schedules are basically the same as those for works by known authors.  One is somewhat more likely to find an index entry for an anonymous work or cycle of works, but a only minority of anonymous works are indexed.

3. Subarrangement:  Within a number or range for an anonymous work, it is common to have specific provisions for texts, selections, translations, and criticism.  For some better-known works, criticism may be further broken down into general criticism and criticism of special aspects or topics.

   E.g.

   Beowulf
   	Texts		PR 1580
   	Selections		PR 1581
   	Modern English versions		PR 1582
   	Translations into foreign languages
   	By language, A-Z		PR 1584 .A-.Z
   	Criticism
   	General works		PR 1585
   	Textual		PR 1586
   	Special subjects, A-Z		PR 1587 .A-.Z
   	...
   	Psychology		PR 1587 .P77
   	...
   	Language, grammar, etc.		PR 1588

G.  No entry found for pre-20th-century author or literary work

The good news is that you should find entries in the class schedules with existing class numbers for the great majority of pre-20th-century individual authors.  Anonymous works without existing class numbers are somewhat more common, but the more well known works are in the schedules.

If you do not find an entry in the class schedules:

1. Browse shelflists using class numbers that you think should be correct:
   • Local Voyager catalogue
   • Online LC catalogue

2. Continue to consider alternative possibilities, and keep searching.  Consult:
   • your piece
   • relevant authority records for authors, anonymous uniform titles, or title cycles

   in case they provide any additional information to assist you in locating the author or title in the schedules.  Name, title, or subject heading searches for the author or anonymous work may provide useful results.

   Possible alternatives include, but are not limited to:

   • Different entry element

   • Different period

   • Different nationality

   • Different original language

   • Classification under non-literary number (depending on topic and nature of work).  The distinction between literature and other forms of writing is not always clearcut for early authors.

     Please note:  Even if an author can be located in the literature schedules, certain of her or his works may be classified as non-literature.  Modern-language translations of many classical Greek and Latin works are classified based on subject, even when editions in the original language are classed under PA.

     E.g.

     Plato, 427-348/7 B.C.:	literature:	PA 4279-4333
     	philosophy:	B 350-398
     Phaedrus:	Greek text:	PA4279.P4
     	English translation:	B 380 .A5

     E.g.    Paulus Diaconus, ca. 720-797

                 Subarrange by Table P-PZ40

                 For his Roman history, see DG 208

     E.g.    Dumas, Alexandre, père, 1802-1870                    PQ 2221-2230

                 ...

                 Separate works

                         ...

                         Impressions de voyage en Russie, see DK 26

3. Consult with your trainer.

   Keep hunting within reason, and without becoming bogged down.  Please feel free to ask your trainer if you have any questions.  Good luck!

HTML document last reviewed:  20 March 2002