< I>World Literature and Its Times< /I> helps students and researchers make connections between political/social climate during which books were written and the works themselves. Each volume focuses on major fiction, poetry and nonfiction from a particular country and region, representing approximately 50 works. The detailed essays are approximately 10 pages in length and offer the following features: < ul>< li> Introductory profile -- an overview that discuss genre, time, place and other important elements with a synopsis and introduction that places the work in the context of the authors' life < li> Events in history -- a report on the social, political and cultural climate relevant to the work, including primary source documents, charts, timelines and other illustrative materials < li> Literary work in focus -- three sections that place the work in context with an in-depth summary, related history and historical sources < li>Sources for more information -- full citations offering additional sources of information < /ul>< P>Additional features include illustrations; maps; author and title tables of contents; sidebars; timelines; advisor information; and an alphabetical index of authors, titles, events and personalities. < P>The series contains eight volumes covering the following literatures: < ul>< li> < I>Latin American literature < li> African literature < li> British & Irish literature< /I> (2 volumes - < I>The Victorian Era to the Present< /I> and < I>Celtic Migrations to the Reform Bill < /I>)< li> < I>Spanish & Portuguese literature < li> Middle Eastern literature < li> Italian literature < li> Classic literature < /I>< /ul>