The Oxford Illustrated History of English Literature

by Pat Rogers (editor)

Britain possesses a literary heritage virtually unrivaled in the Western world. This lavishly illustrated volume explores the richness, diversity, and continuity of that tradition. Under the general editorship of Pat Rogers, some of Britain's foremost literary scholars trace the history of
English literature from its first stirrings in Anglo-Saxon poetry to the present day.
The contributors aim to convey to the reader the pleasure and exhilaration of literature, rather than to provide a bare outline of schools and periods of writing. At the heart of the volume towers the figure of Shakespeare, who has a special chapter devoted entirely to himself. The volume also
offer detailed treatments of other major writers such as Chaucer, Milton, Donne, Wordsworth, Dickens, Eliot, and Auden, and up-to-date discussions of living authors such as Muriel Spark and Seamus Heaney. More than a mere chronology, this versatile work provides a basic core of information and
invaluable supplementary material, including suggestions for further reading, maps, a chronological table of dates, and a detailed index with birth and death dates of individuals listed. It also moves beyond these facts and events to characterize the broad sweep of ideas and the main concerns of
British writers over the past thirteen centuries.
The illustrations chosen--thirty-five in color and over two hundred in black and white--bring to life the content and concerns of the text. They range in subject from manuscripts and book illustrations to works of art and architecture, portraits, social scenes, landscapes, and caricatures,
illuminating not only the literature but also the ideas, preoccupations, and outlooks that fostered it. Rather than simply decorating the text, the illustrations complement and enlarge it.
All experts in their chosen areas, the contributors bring to this volume a deep understanding and great enthusiasm and zest for their subject. Collectively, they have woven together the complex strands of English literature into a highly readable narrative.

Genres: History, Literature, Nonfiction, Reference, Books About Books

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Beverley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled with this book as there is just so much about English literature that I don't know!! Even the periods I'm more familiar with I found difficult and was tempted several times to abandon it. I'm pleased I persevered though because there are things that I have learnt, which is what it's all about!

[The Bookish Wombat · Rating 2 out of 5]

An overview of English literature from the Dark Ages to the 1960s. The history of literature obviously doesn't change, so this is a good book if you want an overview of how literature has developed. The criticism included in the book, however, seems dated and very patriarchal.

[Daniel Veselič · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fundamental outline of British Literature is summarised in approximately 400 pages.

Some chapters of the book, especially those that deal with the literature of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, were the toughest to read – it was not because the chapters were written poorly, but because I am least interested in the literature written during those times, so it was harder for me to find something that I could lean on.

But once I got past that point, the segments that followed afterwards were read in no time.
I especially enjoyed the last 100 pages of the book that dealt with the 19th and 20th centuries; what I liked the most was probably the addition of historical connotations, which gives the reader a better understanding of why and how something was written or done in that way.

Overall, a great overview that gives you better understanding of the history of British Literature.

[Carlos Carneiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dedicated to Ceinwyn xDDDD