This is a major new reference work, one of the most ambitious undertakings in the field of German literary history in years. The ten volumes constitute the most detailed history of German literature in the English language and make available to scholar, student, and the general reader a fresh, coherent view of the immense complexity of 1200 years of German literature and culture. Volumes 1 through 9 are edited by eminent scholars in the field of German literature and provide an up-to-date assessment of the nature and significance of major works -- and many lesser but historically significant or typical works. The essays make use of the variety of recent critical approaches, and thus provide a sometimes radical reassessment of the canon, of literary schools and periods. Yet a primary concern of the work is to present pertinent facts about each period of German literary history in an objective manner. The essays are in English, but all quotations from the German texts are provided in the original and in English translation. Each volume has a detailed index and list of works cited. Volume 10 is a single-author work written by Ingo Stoehr, editor of the bilingual journal of German literature in English translation Dimension2.