-- if your author is included in this series of books on pedagogies for the literature classroom, it may indicate a current appetite for teaching works by the author.
Search for your author as "Subject". Look especially for and look for books with certain subheadings, e.g.:
"--Study and Teaching" :
"--Criticism and interpretation" :
Search for [Your author/work] syllabus to find recent course offerings including your author or work.
Finding Contemporary Reviews
Gale Literary Criticism Series:
and others.
Ref. Indexes: Book Review Digest (1905-2014)
Ref. Indexes: Book Review Index (1964-1984)
(1851-present)
Ref. Indexes: Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature
OhioLINK: LCSH -- Appreciation
Identifying Scholarly Editions
-- list of scholarly editions; many authors are not included, but this is a good place to start.
Search in the and limit to "Editions".
The notes in the back of a Norton Anthology will often list scholarly editions for the authors included in the anthology.
Resources for Explication
Gives chronological word definitions showing how word usage has changed over time.
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
EZRA:
Great source for explicating literary, folkloric, and mythological references