-- if your author is included in this series of books on pedagogies for the literature classroom, it may indicate a current appetite for teaching works by the author.
Search for your author as "Subject". Look especially for and look for books with certain subheadings, e.g.:
"--Study and Teaching" :
"--Criticism and interpretation" :
Search for [Your author/work] syllabus to find recent course offerings including your author or work.
Finding Contemporary Reviews
Gale Literary Criticism Series:
and others.
Ref. Indexes: Book Review Digest (1905-2014)
Ref. Indexes: Book Review Index (1964-1984)
(1851-present)
Ref. Indexes: Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature
OhioLINK: LCSH -- Appreciation
Identifying Scholarly Editions
-- list of scholarly editions; many authors are not included, but this is a good place to start.
Search in the and limit to "Editions".
The notes in the back of a Norton Anthology will often list scholarly editions for the authors included in the anthology.
Resources for Explication
Â鶹´«Ã½s chronological word definitions showing how word usage has changed over time.
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
EZRA:
Great source for explicating literary, folkloric, and mythological references