Delphi Complete Works of John Lyly

by John Lyly, Delphi Classics (Editor)

The Elizabethan writer John Lyly is regarded as the first prose stylist to leave an enduring impression upon the English language. His prose romance concerning the misadventures of Euphues, regarded by some as the first novel of English literature, launched his literary career in 1580’s London. Lyly’s interest with the exact arrangement and selection of words, his frequent use of classical similes and his artificial, yet elegant prose established the ‘euphuism’ style. In his work as a playwright, he contributed significantly to the development of prose dialogue in English drama. His comedies mark an advance upon those of his predecessors, with tales drawn from classical mythology, complemented with witty dialogue and skillful plot development. This eBook presents Lyly’s complete works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts appearing in digital print for the first time, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)

* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Lyly’s life and works
* Concise introductions to the major texts
* All the plays, with individual contents tables
* Features rare dramas appearing for the first time in digital publishing
* Images of how the books were first published, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts
* Excellent formatting of the texts
* Both of the Euphues novels – first time in digital print
* Rare prose and poetry available in no other collection
* Easily locate the texts you want to read
* Includes doubtful verses, edited for the Oxford Clarendon Press
* Features three biographies, including Wilson’s seminal study – discover Lyly’s literary life
* Ordering of texts into chronological order and genres



The Plays
Campaspe (1583)
Sapho and Phao (1584)
Gallathea (1587)
Endymion, the Man in the Moon (1588)
Midas (1589)
Mother Bombie (c. 1590)
Love’s Metamorphosis (c. 1590)
The Woman in the Moon (c. 1595)

The Prose
Euphues, The Anatomy of Wit (1578)
Euphues and His England (1580)
Pappe with an Hatchet (1589)

The Poetry
The Triumphs of Trophes (1586)
A Whip for an Ape (1589)
Mar-Martine (1589)
A Funeral Oration (1603)
Doubtful Verses

The Biographies
John Lyly (1900) by Sidney Lee
John Lyly (1904) by John Dover Wilson
John Lyly (1911) by Mary Augusta Ward

1626 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2025

About the author

(c. 1553 or 1554 – November 1606) An English writer, best known for his books Euphues,The Anatomy of Wit and Euphues and His England. Lyly's linguistic style, originating in his first books, is known as Euphuism.