Research Guides: Shakespeare Studies: Databases and Online Resources

Recommended Databases

Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
A multidisciplinary resource that includes 10,000 full-text peer-reviewed journals.
Drama Online Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Live Collection This link opens in a new window
The RSC Live Collection offers video of the Royal Shakespeare Company's theatre productions from 2013-2023. Not only does this collection feature quality performances, but it also contains Educational Resource Packs to supplement each play.
EEBO - Early English Books Online This link opens in a new window
Early English Books Online is the definitive online collection of early printed works in English, making digital copies of over 146,000 rare works from before 1700 discoverable through an interface tailored for early modern scholars.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Journal topics include humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
LION - Literature Online (ProQuest) This link opens in a new window
Literature Online is the premier online resource for literary research today. Primary texts, criticism, and reference works are made available in a tailored research environment to provide a one-stop resource for the study and teaching of English literature.
Literature Resource Center This link opens in a new window
The world’s most current, comprehensive and reliable online literature database.
Project Muse This link opens in a new window
Project MUSE is a collaboration between libraries and publishers, providing 100% full-text, affordable and user-friendly online access to a comprehensive selection of prestigious humanities and social sciences journals.

Shakespeare: Life and Times

Map of Early Modern London

Oxford English Dictionary (OED)

Oxford Companion to English Literature This link opens in a new window
Ebook 7th Edition.
Oxford Handbook of Tudor Drama This link opens in a new window
A secondary text on Tudor drama.
Oxford English Dictionary This link opens in a new window

Open Access Databases

Oxford University Press Open Access Online Journals This link opens in a new window
The Oxford Open initiative expands Oxford Journals' experiments with Open Access publishing models. It includes full and optional open access to more than 100 journals drawn from every subject area.
Hathi Trust This link opens in a new window
HathiTrust is a partnership of academic & research institutions, offering a collection of millions of titles digitized from libraries around the world.

Open Source Shakespeare
Open Source Shakespeare attempts to be the best free Web site containing Shakespeare's complete works. It is intended for scholars, thespians, and Shakespeare lovers of every kind. OSS includes the 1864 Globe Edition of the complete works, which was the definitive single-volume Shakespeare edition for over a half-century.
Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare Library is the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The independent charity that cares for the world’s greatest Shakespeare heritage sites in Stratford-upon-Avon, and promotes the enjoyment and understanding of his works, life and times all over the world.