Britain boasts a literary heritage second to none in the Western world. In this lavishly illustrated volume, the richness, diversity, and continuity of this tradition are explored in depth by some of England's foremost literary scholars.Through the course of the book the authors--all experts in their chosen fields--trace the evolution of English literature, from its first stirrings in Anglo-Saxon poetry to the present day. The heart and soul of the book is the towering figure of Shakespeare, who is accorded a special chapter, but all the major men and women of English letters are here: Chaucer, Milton, Donne, Wordsworth, Dickens, Eliot, Auden, and the story is brought up-to-the-minute with discussions of living authors such as Seamus Heaney and Edward Bond. The detailed chronology, suggestions for further reading, and an accessible structure arranged by period make An Outline of English Literature an especially attractive reference source. And by weaving the entire story of English literary history together in a single, highly readable narrative, this book will delight both newcomers to the subject, as well as those already familiar with the richness and scope of English literature's unrivalled tradition.