The Short Oxford History of English Literature

by Andrew Sanders

Book Overview

Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, Andrew Sanders notes, had its start by accident. The first writer entombed there (long before it was known by today's name) was Geoffrey Chaucer--so honored not for his works, but because he had lived nearby and had distant connections to the crown. But Chaucer was lionized by future generations, especially by Edmund Spenser, who was the next poet to take his place in the Corner. Over time, more men of letters followed...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198112025
• ISBN13: 9780198112020
• Release Date: May 1994
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 680 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent history; could have used a bit more primary exceprts.

Not surprisingly, Sanders has crafted an excellent historical survey of the development and nuances of English lit. It's well worth reading to gain a better understanding of why and how English lit has looked at various times in history. About the only thing I would have liked to see was a little more in the way of excerpts from notables here. Sanders does include some, and I know we can't have everything we'd like in a history that has the word 'shorter' in the title; I guess that's not so much a complaint as just a lament about concise surveys in general... and now I'm off-topic. anyhow, this is superbly constructed and solidly written, and I enjoyed myself.