1. A method comprising: identifying a group of related written works representing different editions of a single written work; for each of the written works in the group of related written works: identifying character identities within the written work; identifying one or more text strings used within the written work for each character identity; calculating a significance value for each character identity; and selecting a primary text string from the one or more text strings; for each character identity identified in the group of related written works; calculating a combined significance value from the significance value calculated for each character identity within each written work, the combined significance value combining the character identities across the group of related written works; selecting a representative primary text string from the primary text strings selected for each character identity within each written work; and creating a merged character identity based on the combined significance value and the representative primary text sting; and associating the merged character identities with the group of related written works.