Quick guide to the Oxford DNB

What is the Oxford DNB?

• An illustrated collection of more than 57,000 specially written biographies of the men and women from around the world who shaped all aspects of Britain's past.    > Find out more
• The Oxford DNB was published in print and online in 2004. It is extended with three annual updates (each January, May and October), adding new biographies from the Romans to the 21st century. More on updates since 2004.

Who gets a biography in the Oxford DNB?

• Noteworthy people in any walk of life who were connected with the British Isles and British history worldwide.    > Find out more

Who has written for the Oxford DNB?

• more than 10,000 specialist contributors, making this the largest collaborative research project in the humanities. Many of the authors are world authorities on their subject and bring a lifetime's knowledge to the Oxford DNB biography.    > Find out more

Who is the Oxford DNB for?

• Everyone interested in the men and women who have left a mark on British history—scholars, family historians, biographers, students, teachers, librarians, archivists, and anyone with an interest in the quirks of human nature.    > Find out more

How do I read the Oxford DNB?

• Many libraries throughout the world, including almost all UK public libraries, subscribe, and can let their readers use their subscriptions from their own homes. We also have personal subscriptions, plus an always-changing selection of free material.    > Find out more

< About Oxford DNB

> The online edition
> Sample articles: Lives of the Week
> Free biographies by email: sign up for Life of the Day