Q. Where should I start to find basic background information about the Pentateuch, like authorship, etc.?

The best place to start is with an article in a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia.  They are packed with a lot of basic information in a relatively few (3-5) pages.  In most cases, an included bibliography will provide citations to standard secondary literature.

The Luther Seminary Library holds several Bible dictionaries in the reference collection. Some good options include the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (BS440 .H27 2011 Ref.), the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (BS440 .E44 2000 Ref.) and the multi-volume Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (BS440 .A54 Ref.)