About the Author

George Thomas Kurian (1931–2015) was president of the Encyclopedia Society and the editor of sixty-five books, including numerous encyclopedias and dictionaries. He was also a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He was the editor, among others, of The World Christian Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization, and Encyclopedia of Christian Education.

James D. Smith III is associate professor of Church History at Bethel University, San Diego. He is also on the editorial board of Christian History magazine.

Reviews

This encyclopedia should be a valuable reference for many audiences and a welcome addition to most academic reference collections. The two-volume set is organized into two parts: 'Genres and Types' and 'Biographies.' Forty essays in the first part explore the many genres included under the Christian literature umbrella. Individual essayists concisely describe and define areas ranging from apocalyptic literature to children's literature to systematics. Articles will be accessible to most readers. The 400-plus biographies cover individuals from ancient to modern times, examining authors of theological and mystical works as well as novelists and nonfiction writers....Overall, this compact, easy-to-use work provides good information. Recommended.
*CHOICE*

With the help of more than 175 contributors, Kurian and Smith have produced a concise yet substantive guide to Christian literature, both old and new. The set has two major sections. The first makes up roughly one-fourth of the entire work. It is here that the whole of Christian literature is categorized into approximately 40 genres, including Apologetics, Devotional literature, Missions literature, Poetry, and Systematics. The average entry is 3–4 pages long, including a small dose of background and history along with a survey of noteworthy authors and works belonging to the genre. Most articles also include a meaty bibliography. The heart and soul of the encyclopedia is the biographical section, which begins in the middle of volume 1....Overall, the coverage includes a nice blend of contemporary (e.g., Max Lucado, Rick Warren) and historical (Martin Luther, Tolstoy) icons. Most authors receive at least a page’s worth of attention. Following the entries are a time line, an alphabetical list of 'the seventy five greatest Christian writers,' and an index. A well-suited work for virtually any academic and large public library.
*Booklist*

Because Christian literature is so vast, and there are no other reference sources that specifically address Christian literature in this manner, Encyclopedia of Christian Literature is a worthy addition to the world of reference....This title is recommended for academic libraries, especially those who support religious studies curricula.
*Reference and User Services Quarterly*

This two-volume encyclopedia provides a representative look at a wide variety of core Christian writings and authors from all denominations over the course of 2000 years….Recommended for all libraries on account of its broad scope and appeal.
*Library Journal*

This is a useful and well-produced publication. The division into two volumes makes it much easier to manage than a single volume would have been, and much more likely to remain serviceable on library shelves. This is a helpful general reference work as well as serving specialist theological institutions.
*s*

Kurian and Smith's Encyclopedia takes its rightful place amongst these as a composite work, blending a dictionary of genres and types of literature (ranging from 'Apocalyptic Literature' to 'Women's Literature') with an anthology of entries on significant authors.
*American Reference Books Annual*

The encyclopedia has two volumes. The first beings with the genres and types of Christian writing, and here one finds useful entries ranging from apocalyptic literature to women's literature. Thereafter, both volumes are devoted to a wide range of authors, entries on whom are arranged alphabetically.
*The Catholic Historical Review*

This ambitious volume, coedited by the president of the Encyclopedia Society and an associate professor of church history at Bethel Seminary, ranges across twenty centuries, offering instructive examples of the written and spoken word’s power to define as well as describe the rich variety of the Christian experience, especially in the Western world....Helpful bibliographies, an expedient index, and handy illustrations complete this first-of-its-kind account of the Western world’s Christian literary legacy. This is highly recommended for scholars, religious bibliophiles, and reference libraries.
*Religious Studies Review*

Smith, Kurian, and their contributors certainly provide a resource that will help readers to deepen their understanding of what they read, hopefully toward the end of lending their reading the kind of God-glorifying vitality Merton describes.
*Christianity and Literature*