Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto is a unique work of international reference, with over 300 individual articles on the most important authors. Its introductory articles to the literature and to each of its periods also tell the fascinating story of the development of the literature from its humble beginnings in 1887 to its worldwide use in every literary genre today. --- The planned, neutral international language Esperanto is used across the world as a second language by people who wish to practice mutual respect for other cultures, not merely advocate it. --- Original Esperanto literature - creative writing directly in Esperanto by, at least, bilingual speakers - is the work of authors from many countries, who have chosen to write in it because of its merits. It is, as yet, always a labour of love, that is to say a product of culture. It is also most fundamentally democratic - a product of people - as opposed to capital, power or national prestige. Esperanto culture is rooted in the fundamental values of humanity, equality and mutual respect, multilingualism, language rights, and cultural diversity and emancipation.