This new edition of an established text provides a lively, concise and up-to-dat
e historical overview of the story of English literature. Focusing on how writin
g both reflects and challenges the periods in which it is produced, John Peck an
d 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 Li
terature: * 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 F
urther Reading section * places novels, poems, plays and other forms of writing
in their social, political and cultural contexts * covers canonical and non-cano
nical texts.
