The Cambridge History of English Literature: From the Beginnings to the Cycles of Romance

First published in 1932, as the second edition of a 1907 original, this informative and insightful book was aimed at a wide readership and was primarily intended ‘to give a connected account of the successive movements of English literature, to describe the work of writers both of primary and of secondary importance, and to discuss the interaction between English and foreign literatures’. Chapter titles include, ‘Old English Christian Poetry’, ‘The Arthurian Legend’ and ‘Metrical Romances 1200-1500’. Cognate subjects are also covered and explored, such as oratory, journalism and typography. This vibrant and visionary book provides a solid historical overview and reflection on the history of the subject and effortlessly bridges the gap between all the key movements of English literature. Capturing the excitement and intrigue of the story of English literature, this detailed and accessible book will be of considerable value to specialists and non-specialists alike.