Welcome to the British Library

Discover some of the most iconic works of English Literature and explore the worlds in which they were written

Themes 1/9

History of Recorded Sound

From the beginnings of recorded sound and beyond, discover some introductory articles from the British Library.

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Treasures of the British Library

A selection of ten of the finest literary treasures from our collections

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Wilde, the web and the world

Explore the life, work and literary legacy of Oscar Wilde.

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London in Literature

Explore the diverse ways in which writers have portrayed the city of London

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Crime and Crime Fiction

Why was crime such a popular subject in 19th-century fiction?

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Childhood and Children's Literature

The story of the development of children's literature

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English Literature in Translation

The journey of some of the most iconic works of English literature to China.

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Where Great Writers Gather: Treasures of the British Library

Learn about the iconic works of five great writers through the literary treasures at the British Library

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In Mu Xin's words: Treasures of the British Library

Introducing and exploring the four iconic works on display at Mu Xin Art Museum

Featured works

44 of the most iconic works of English literature

Featured authors

32 of the most famous authors of the English language

Featured articles

93 of the illuminating articles

Chinese and British

British Library | 2022/11/18 - 2023/04/23

Free exhibition exploring British Chinese communities and culture opens at the British Library and in public libraries across the UK.

Find out more View all exhibitions
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