English Literature in Context

by Paul Poplawski (Editor)

Supporting the study of English literature from the Middle Ages to the present, this book is designed as an introductory text AND a helpful reference tool for an entire English Literature degree. Its key mission is to help students understand the link between the historical context in which the literature developed, how this has influenced the literature of the period and how subsequent periods in literature have been influenced by those that precede them. The book is carefully structured for undergraduate use, with a rich range of illustrations and textboxes that enhance and summarise vital background material. The seven chronological chapters are written by a team of expert contributors who are also highly experienced teachers with a clear sense of the requirements of the undergraduate English curriculum. Each analyses a major historical period, surveying and documenting the cultural contexts that have shaped English literature, and focusing on key texts. In addition to the narrative survey, each chapter includes a detailed chronology, providing a quick-reference guide to the period; contextual readings of select literary texts; and annotated suggestions for further reading.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Literary Criticism, Literature, Reference, British Literature

704 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2007

Reviews

[Alok Mishra]

Academically, for those who have to score marks and also those who have to teach how to score marks, the book is an absolute boon. It brings to the fore all those backend details that readers will find helpful in interpreting literary works. Context becomes essential to understand the seminal works of literature in the grand scheme of the evolution of a nation. However, the book misses on many points critically. The author pulls up those literary figures who could never jump beyond the periphery of literature for being apologists for the British colonial policies and actions. However, Poplawski dares not to pull up the romantic poets, the Victorian and the novelists of a little before who used colonial references only to further polish their fictional narratives rather than exposing the agendas of the British empire. It is an important context, and we cannot forget it just like that. The boundaries of Humanity and sympathy that was greater than gold supposedly ceased within the English nation!

[Jessica]

A good, solidly helpful text that provides historical and literary introductions to the periods. The sections themselves vary in focus as they are each written by an expert in that particular era - for example, the 19th century section has a lot of detail about the changing ways literature was produced and experienced, whilke the contemporary section is quite political while the mediaeval section is history-heavy (in a good way!) Some of the sections are better than others - I found the late 20th century section by far the least useful, but that may just reflect a personal dislike for that critic as I've never got on with any of his work.

[Shreya Pandey]

The context often overshadows the literature when it comes to this book. But it is, by all means, a good book to come to, to get an idea of how the social/political/economic/cultural milieu of a particular age helped shape its literature.

However, before coming to it, I'd suggest getting a general idea of English history. The text often just makes references to events, instead of going into detail. This is where prior knowledge would help. It is also not a good text if you want an in-depth study of the literature of that particular age. It does what it claims to do, show a basic connection between literature and its context.

[Marianne Barron]

Murstein - javisst, men veldig bra og oversiktelig bok som virkelig setter engelsk litteratur inn i sammenheng med tiden og "ånden".

[Smokearm]

i dont know if i finished it i got bored

[benedetta ✰]

every aspiring english teacher needs their own Big Literature Bible™ and i'm happy this is mine. gotta pass this exam first tho

[Amira]

very clear and strict to the point !

[Lena Donan]

Source code of every English-literature-men (as a new old type of human being) :)