This comprehensive anthology offers a deep dive into the rich history and diverse landscape of English literature. Spanning centuries, from medieval epics to modern experimental prose, it showcases the seminal works and influential authors who have shaped the literary canon. It serves as an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and general readers alike, providing a curated journey through the evolution of the English language and its artistic expressions. Each meticulously selected volume unlocks a deeper understanding of literary traditions and their enduring impact.
This volume includes works by Spenser (excerpts from all books of The Faerie Queene), Shakespeare (including The Tempest), Marlowe (Dr. Faustus, Hero and Leander), Donne, and Milton (Comus, Samson Agonistes, and long excerpts from Paradise Lost).
The authors represented in this volume include Congreve (The Way of the World), Gay (The Beggar's Opera), Dryden (Absalom and Achitophel and MacFlecknoe), Swift, Pope, Boswell, and Samuel Johnson.
This volume devotes over 100 pages to William Blake, including The Book of Thel and the entire "Night the Ninth" from The Four Zoas, as well as excerpts from Milton and Jerusalem. It also includes poems and prose by Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Shelley, and Byron.