Literature.
See also the names of national literatures as
English, Italian, Spanish.
To enter compound names under the last name, as recommended, does not by any means imply that the first part of the hyphenated name should be reduced to initials in the principal entry of even a short-form catalogue, and, therefore, the briefest style for these names is Wilmot, Sir S. Eardley; Edwards, M. Betham; Morley, L. Collison.
If the codes of rules which stipulate for entry under the first part of a compound name are followed, the names are given after this fashion, to take one of the above books in illustration,
Betham-Edwards, Matilda. Unfrequented France
by river, and mead, and town. pp. x., 204,
illus. 1910
France:
Betham-Edwards, M. Unfrequented France.
1910
The reverse form of reference then becomes necessary, as
Edwards, Matilda Betham. See Betham-Edwards.
The Dewey numbers for the classified catalogue of these three books are respectively 915.4 (Geography and Travels—India), 914.4 (Geography and Travels—France), and 850.9 (Literature—Italian Literature—History). The index entries are
Wilmot, Sir S. E. Forest life in India, 915.4
India (Travels) 915-4
Edwards, M. B. Unfrequented France, 914.4
France (Travels) 914.4
Italian Literature (History), 850.9
Morley, L. C. Mod. Italian literature, 850.9
Compound names are a greater source of worry where foreign authors are concerned, and, irrespective of the rules, it is an excellent plan to use a native biographical dictionary to ensure correctness of entry. A rule of a general character may be laid down to the effect that foreign names are subject to the opposite method of treatment to that for English names, and the first part of the name is taken. It is said, though the statement is not vouched for, that in France, and, no doubt, elsewhere, such names are obtained in an odd way. A person say of the name of Saluste lives in a small town and on the left bank of the river running through it. In order that he may not be confused with another person of the same name living in another part, he is spoken of as Saluste of the Left Bank, and in course of time this distinguishing name is absorbed by his family, its patronymic eventually becoming Saluste de la Rive Gauche.