Western Literature Call Numbers for Individual Authors

Library of Congress Literature Classes for Western Languages

Within each classes, there are a number of topics (e.g. PS214: American literature --19th century) and numbers for individual authors (e.g. PS1541: Emily Dickinson)

Individual authors are grouped by period under each national literature. Under each period, they have been assigned individual numbers in an alphabetical sequence. Authors prior to the twenties century are assigned ranges of numbers according to the amount of material by and about them. Major authors, such as Shakespeare (PR2750-3112) and Goethe (PT1891-2239), have been assigned over three hundred numbers each. other important authors, such as Robert Browning and Friedrich von Schiller, receive up to fifty numbers each. Most of the authors receive one number or a Cutter Number. For example, Emily Dickinson receives one number: PS1514.

Individual authors are grouped by period under each national literature. Under each period, they have been assigned individual numbers in an alphabetical sequence. Authors prior to the twentieth century are assigned ranges of numbers according to the amount of material by and about them. Major authors, such as Shakespeare (PR2750-3112) and Goethe (PT1891-2239), have been assigned over three hundred numbers each. Other important authors, such as Robert Browning and Friedrich von Schiller, receive up to fifty numbers each. Most of the authors receive one number or a Cutter number. For example, Emily Dickinson receives one number: PS1541.

All twentieth century authors are assigned a Cutter number each, regardless of the amount of material. For example, William Faulkner has been assigned the number PS3511.A86. It is important to remember that the Cutter number for the author is usually based on the second letter of the author’s last name. This is necessary because the cardinal number refers to the first letter of the author’s last name. In other words, PS3511 is used for twentieth century American authors whose names begin with the letter F. Author Cutters based on the first letter of the name sometimes occur in those areas of the schedules reserved for authors writing in countries where use of the language is often a colonial legacy; in that case, the schedule assigns one number followed by A-Z, e.g. 20th century Indian authors writing in English is PR9499.3.A-Z. So, Salman Rushdie is PR9499.3.R8. Other examples: French-Canadian authors 1961-2000 is PQ3919.2.A-Z, so Marie Auger: PQ3919.2.A926. 20th century New Zealand authors is PR9639.3.A-Z, so Ngaio Marsh: PR9639.3.M27 (at Yale .M37).

LC has begun to add 21st century authors to the schedules. A 21st century author is defined as an author who publishes for the first time in 2001 or later. 21st century authors generally follow the pattern of 20th century authors, i.e. the author is assigned a single Cutter number. If the 20th century pattern has been to base the Cutter on the 2nd letter of the author's name, the same pattern is followed for the 21st century. If the 20th century pattern was to base the Cutter on the first letter of the name (e.g. French-Canadian PQ3919.A-Z 1960-2000), the same pattern is followed for the 21st century (PQ3919.3.A-Z 2001-).

Whatever the range of numbers assigned to an author, works written by and about the author are subarranged according to a recurring pattern:

1. Collected Works
2. Translations (of the works, not of the individual titles)
3. Selected Works
4. Separate works, alphabetically by title (with translations of each title following the title in the original language; followed by books about the specific works)
5. Bibliography and general criticism (i.e. books not about a specific work)