This annual compendium includes original material covering a given years literary highlights, including obituaries and tributes. The Yearbook provides signed essays summarizing the year in poetry, fiction, biography, drama and childrens books we well as scholarly articles, interviews, biographies and critical studies covering events, organizations, works, writers and the business of literature. Volumes include lists of award and honors winners; a necrology; a cumulative index and more.

Updates entries already published and supplements the Dictionary of Literary Biography series with entries on newly prominent writers.