One of the pioneering works in literary historiography, the book a short history of english literature combines in a remarkable manner the historical and the critical principles that ought to govern any literary history. What are the best books on the history of english literature. Old english literature, or anglosaxon literature, encompasses the surviving literature written in old english in anglosaxon england, in the period after the settlement of the saxons and other germanic tribes in england jutes and the angles c. The major literatures written in english outside the british isles are treated separately under american literature, australian literature, canadian literature, and new zealand literature. Oxford history of english literature book series thriftbooks. English literature, the body of written works produced in the english language by inhabitants of the british isles including ireland from the 7th century to the present day.
The cambridge history of early modern english literature. Best books for studying history of english literature 1. The cambridge history of english literature, 16601780. Great deals on one book or all books in the series. Sometimes the best way of understanding different periods of literary history is. Add victorian poetry, drama, and miscellaneous prose 18321890 to cart. The cambridge history of english and american literature an encyclopedia in eighteen volumes considered the most important work of literary history and criticism ever published, the cambridge history contains over 303 chapters and 11,000 pages, with essay topics ranging from poetry, fiction, drama and essays to history, theology and political writing. A short history of english literature by blamires, harry and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The history of english literature by arthur comptonrickett is by far the best book on it that ive come across. It is incomprehensible to a reader familiar only with modern english. Which books are a must read for an english literature student. Dramatists are treated briefly because the history of drama is a subject in itself see david timsons history of theatre on the naxos label. The short oxford history of english literature andrew sanders clarendon press oxford 1994 oxford university press, walton sheet, oxford ox2 6dp oxford new york toronto delhi bombay calcutta madras karachi kuala lumpur singapore hong kong toky o nairobi dar es salaam cape town melbourne auckland madrid and associated companies in. The cambridge history of english and american literature.
According to cuthbert, who was a monk at jarrow, bede at the time. As someone who recently reread his college english history textbook i would say that this is the better book in every way. Old english literature the old english language or anglosaxon is the earliest form of english. History of english literature timeline tudor 14851603 elizabethan 15581603 jacobian 16031625 caroline 16251649 late renaissance puritans 16251660. The book analyzes and explains the basic pre history of the universe and how it came into being, the basic dynamics which created life, the basic. History of english literature by edward albert revised. Widsith, which appears in the exeter book of the late 10th century, gives a list of kings of tribes ordered according to their popularity and impact on history, with. In previous decades there have been performances of primitive and rumbustious english plays in the courtyards of various london inns, with the audience standing in the yard itself or on the open galleries. In this article, alok mishra lists his personal choices the best books for studying history of english literature. The publication, in 1798, by the poets william wordsworth 17701850 and samuel taylor coleridge 17721834 of a volume entitled lyrical ballads is a significant event in english literary history, though the poems were poorly received and few books sold. History of english literature by edward albert revised by j. An immensely lucid, systematic book detailing the history of english literature right from old english to modern english provides necessary background historical and cultural context to understand the trends of a particular era in terms of its literary output as also discussing in brief but with immense clarity major authors and works of respective eras and a brief mention of minor authors. I couldnt find it in the details anywhere when i bought this, but it is the.
The elegant latinisms of gray are dropped in favour of a kind of english closer to that. This new edition of an established text provides a lively, concise and uptodate historical overview of the story of english literature. English literature, body of written works produced in the english language by inhabitants of the british isles from the 7th century to the present. History of english literature, the unabridged naxos. Long 2701 downloads a brief history of the english language and literature, vol. The story of english literature begins with the germanic tradition of the anglosaxon settlers. Oxford history of english literature oxford university press. History of english literature pdf included periods of. English literature has a long and illustrious history that has spawned some of the worlds most famous writers, novels, plays and poems. Find the complete oxford history of english literature book series listed in order. This epic poem of the 8th century is in anglosaxon, now more usually described as old english.
The best books on virginia woolf, recommended by hermione lee. That history can be broken down into a number of distinct literary eras, in each of which a set of characteristics or beliefs shaped the works of literature produced. The cambridge history of english literature, 16601780 edited by. Well, look no further than this list of ten of the best books about english literature. The period is a long one and it is generally considered that old english was spoken from about a.
This book aims to provide a general manual of english literature for students in colleges and universities and others beyond the high. Many of the poems of the period are pagan, in particular widsith and beowulf. Were this to be a history of literature in english, i would obviously have had to include american and post colonial writers eliot and james are present because they took british citizenship. Pdf a brief history of english literature download full. Pdf a brief history of english literature download. Such a study of literature as that for which the present book is designed includes two purposes, contributing to a common end. This 2003 book is a fullscale history of early modern english literature, offering perspectives on english literature produced in britain between the reformation and the restoration. Cambridge core english literature 17001830 the cambridge history of. Nobel prizes in english literature rudyard kipling 1907. Buy the short oxford history of english literature book. The path of splitness is a major nonfiction work that will rock the scientific world it is 2,766 pages. History of english literature by edward albert goodreads. It was first published on 28 february 1749 in london and is among the earliest english works to be classified as a novel. A brief history of english literature literary theory.
Focusing on how writing both reflects and challenges the periods in which it is produced, john peck and martin coyle combine close readings of key texts with recent critical thinking on the interaction of. Books about english literature history and criticism. What are the best books about there about literature whether trivia books, introductions to english literature, or handy guides to some of the most pressing questions about the study of literature. Beowulf, the earliest literature, the national epic of the anglosaxon, one of. This is a very complete and well written history of england. Alberts history of english literature has won for itself a secure place as a study of. They are very nice books with cloth coverings and a tassel bookmark built into each book. Finally, if youre an english literature student or aspire to be one, youll likely encounter or need to be familiar with literature in other languages, too. A brief history of english literature book summary. For almost all readers there will be frequent points where you will realize that most of what you knew about english history is wrong. Her biographer, hermione lee, talks us through the best virginia woolf books, novels and essays, and diaries, of virginia woolf. Taines history of english literature is an excellent classic book, and i was looking forward to having it on my kindle. I would recommend the following books to a student of english literature for true and finer understanding and appreciation of the beauty of the english language and the construction of story plot and ideas.
About the book a history of english literature is a chronological account of the books which have been written in the english language and their authors. Other 7th and 8thcentury prose, similarly practical in character, includes more laws, wills, and charters. The earliest english prose work, the law code of king aethelberht i of kent, was written within a few years of the arrival in england 597 of st. Cambridge core english literature 17001830 the cambridge history of english literature, 16601780 edited by john richetti. A good place to start is emily wilsons reading list on the odyssey her new translation of the homeric epic is a cut above the rest, too, as well as daniel mendelssohn on. Mais 363 downloadsenglish literature for boys and girls h. It talks about the physical appearance as well as the intellectual capabilities of the figures objectively, and sometimes you can hear the whispered voice of the author giving personality to the book. Less is known about the author of this book but the book is very. Virginia woolf was long dismissed as a minor modernist but now stands as one of the giants of 20th century literature.
An outline history of english literature hudson abebooks. While providing the general coverage and specific information expected of a major history, its twentysix chapters. The history of tom jones, a foundling, often known simply as tom jones, is a comic novel by english playwright and novelist henry fielding. Best books for studying history of english literature. Buy history of english literature book online at low. History of english literature book by raghukul tilak pdf. A critical history of english literature by david daiches. In the first place i, the student must gain some general knowledge of the conditions out of which english literature has come into being, as a whole and. A brief history of english literature download ebook pdf.
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