A lively introductory guide to English literature from Beowulf to the present day. The authors write in their characteristically lucid style and present the texts in relation to their social, political and cultural contexts. Clear and concise, the updated second edition now features a new final chapter on twenty-first century literature.

Preface Acknowledgements 1. Old English Literature 2. Middle English Literature 3. SixteenthCentury Poetry and Prose 4. Shakespeare 5. Renaissance and Restoration Drama 6. Seventeenth-Century Poetry and Prose 7. The Eighteenth Century 8. The Novel: The First Hundred Years 9. The Romantic Period 10. Victorian Literature 1837-1857 11. Victorian Literature 1857-1876 12. Victorian Literature 1876-1901 13. The Twentieth Century: The Early Years 14. The Twentieth Century: Between the Wars 15. The Twentieth Century: The Second World War to the End of the Millennium 16. The Twenty-First Century-Periods of English Literature and Language Chronology Further Reading Index.

This new edition of an established text provides a lively, concise and up-to-date historical overview of the story of English literature. 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 literary works and culture.A Brief History of English Literature:• offers an engaging chronological narrative of all the main literary periods, from Anglo-Saxon times through to the present day • now features a new final chapter on twenty-first century literature and an updated Chronology and Further Reading section• places novels, poems, plays and other forms of writing in their social, political and cultural contexts• covers canonical and non-canonical texts.A true masterpiece of clarity and compression, this is essential reading for students of English Literature and general readers alike.

'A Brief History is notable for its lucidity and intelligence, and the new material displays those same virtues.' - Stephen Arata, University of Virginia, USA 'An essential resource for teachers and students of literature alike.' - Cinta Zunino Garrido, Universidad de Jaen, Spain PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION 'This text focuses on writers who are English, rather than who write in English, and deliberately concentrates on those most likely to be studied within the English education system. Its aim is to explore texts' interaction with their historical context; accordingly, it gives historical details as well as summaries and interpretations of literary texts. The style is concise, with concerns being introduced in a few paragraphs or even sentences...I found this an interesting and useful read. It introduces complex ideas in a style that will be easily understood by English teachers and will be accessible to some students at Advanced level and many in Higher Education. I recommend it for English departments and school/college libraries.' - Helen Barker, National Association for the Teaching of English 'A well-structured, uncluttered and balanced account of English literary history.' - J.P. Van der Motten, Gent Universiteit, Belgium 'Chatty and engaging...will do its best work at sixth-form and first-year undergraduate level.' - The Times Higher Education Supplement 'A fluently written and very accessible history of English literature.' - Linden Peach, Loughborough University, UK 'Pacy, readable and engaging.' - Rick Rylance, Anglia Polytechnic University, UK

'A Brief History is notable for its lucidity and intelligence, and the new material displays those same virtues.' - Stephen Arata, University of Virginia, USA 'An essential resource for teachers and students of literature alike.' - Cinta Zunino Garrido, Universidad de Jaen, Spain PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION 'This text focuses on writers who are English, rather than who write in English, and deliberately concentrates on those most likely to be studied within the English education system. Its aim is to explore texts' interaction with their historical context; accordingly, it gives historical details as well as summaries and interpretations of literary texts. The style is concise, with concerns being introduced in a few paragraphs or even sentences...I found this an interesting and useful read. It introduces complex ideas in a style that will be easily understood by English teachers and will be accessible to some students at Advanced level and many in Higher Education. I recommend it for English departments and school/college libraries.' - Helen Barker, National Association for the Teaching of English 'A well-structured, uncluttered and balanced account of English literary history.' - J.P. Van der Motten, Gent Universiteit, Belgium 'Chatty and engaging...will do its best work at sixth-form and first-year undergraduate level.' - The Times Higher Education Supplement 'A fluently written and very accessible history of English literature.' - Linden Peach, Loughborough University, UK 'Pacy, readable and engaging.' - Rick Rylance, Anglia Polytechnic University, UK