Discovering Literature - the British Library’s literary treasures, online

Discovering Literature brings together, for the first time, a wealth of the British Library’s greatest literary treasures, including numerous original manuscripts, first editions and rare illustrations. A wealth of original sources span the Romantic and Victorian periods, alongside historical material such as newspapers, diaries, letters, photographs, and maps.

William Blake’s notebook, childhood writings of the Brontë sisters, the manuscript of the Preface to Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist, and an early draft of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest are just some of the unique collections available on the site.

Discovering Literature features over 8000 pages of collection items and explores more than 20 authors through 165 newly-commissioned articles, 25 short documentary films, and 30 lesson plans. More than 60 experts have contributed interpretation, enriching the website with contemporary research. Works from the Romantic and Victorian periods form the first phase of a wider project to digitise other literary eras, including the 20th century.  Visit http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians to find out more.