A Literary and Biographical History, or Bibliographical Dictionary of the English Catholics : From the Breach with Rome, in 1534, to the Present Time - v. I

This is a bibliographic and encylopedic tool for scholars of English Catholic history.

Written by Joseph Gillow (1850-1921), the founder of the Catholic Record Society and a leading authority of recusant history, the aim of the "Dictionary" was "to present, in the most ready and convenient form, a concise record of the literary efforts, educational struggles, and sufferings for religion's sake of the Catholics in England". Originally published between 1885 and 1902, these five volumes reveal a wealth of bibliographical material outlining the struggles and controversies in Catholic history in England and Wales over three and a half centuries.

Recording the published and unpublished writings of all Catholics since the Reformation, this work also includes titles of hundreds of books and pamphlets by non-Catholics.

It contains a mixture of martyrs, priests and celebrated laymen, notices of missions, churches and chapels, seminaries, colleges and schools.

Special attention is given to the booksellers and printers who by helping the Catholic faith endangered their lives and fortunes. Each biographical entry is set out alphabetically and contains extensive chronological lists of manuscripts, printed books and pamphlets, annotated with details of various editions and translations.

Gillow also identifies important material by anonymous and pseudonymous writers.

Comprehensive references for further study are included.