About Crossref-it.info

Crossref-it.info is an independent educational project created to support students and teachers studying English literature. Crossref-it.info's goal is simple: to make clear, reliable resources freely available so that more people can enjoy, understand and succeed in the texts they study.

Website is focused on helping learners make connections between what they read in class and the wider historical, cultural and spiritual contexts that shaped those works.

Who we are

Crossref-it.info is maintained by a small team of enthusiasts with a genuine passion for English literature and related subjects. Some of us have taught exam classes, so we understand the pressure students face when preparing for assessments.

Although our backgrounds are varied, we share a few core values:

We do not represent any one school, exam board or denomination, and we welcome users from all educational and faith backgrounds.

Original team

This resource was first built by the original Crossref-it.info team, who created the core materials and published the guides. Learn more about the original team here: acknowledgements archive page.

Our mission

Our mission is to support students and teachers with clear, trustworthy resources that make literature and its contexts easier to understand.

Support student progress

Help students move from “I don’t get this” to “I can explain it”.

Equip teachers

Give teachers ready-to-use material that supports classroom learning.

Make connections

Show how literature, faith, ideas and society are often closely linked.

Keep resources accessible

Keep high-quality study resources free to access whenever possible.

We want Crossref-it.info to be a place where readers can dig deeper into set texts and discover how they speak into real questions about life, belief and culture.

What you’ll find on Crossref-it.info

Across the site you’ll find a range of resources that are designed to work together:

In-depth text guides

Plot summaries, character studies, themes, language and structure to support close reading and essay planning.

Context articles

Historical, social, philosophical and religious background that helps explain why texts were written and how they were first received.

Study and exam skills

Guidance on planning essays, analysing quotations, revising effectively and approaching different types of exam question.

Timelines and overviews

Visual and written overviews that show how authors, movements and ideas fit together across periods and genres.

Texts and extracts

Full texts and carefully selected extracts, available where permissions or public domain status allow us to share them.

These resources are especially useful for students preparing for school and college exams in English literature, but they can also support independent learners and anyone wanting to explore classic texts in more depth.

If you spot an error or feel that something could be improved, we genuinely welcome constructive feedback.