CONTENTS:

BOOK ONE 

THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
I. BEOWULF
II. CAEDMON’S PARAPHRASE
III. THE EXETER BOOK
IV. BEDE’S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH RACE
V. THE ENGLISH CHRONICLE

THE MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
VI. THE CHRONICA MAJORA OF MATTHEW PARIS
VII. PEARL: SIR GAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT
VIII. THE VISION OF PIERS PLOWMAN
IX. THE CANTERBURY TALES
X. WICLIF’S BIBLE
XI. THE VOIAGE AND TRAVAILE OF SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
XII. UTOPIA
XIII. TINDALE’S BIBLE
XIV. EUPHUES: THE ANATOMIE OF WIT
XV. THE SONNETS OF SIR PHILIP SIDNEY
XVI. DR. FAUSTUS: FRIAR BACON AND FRIAR BUNGAY
XVII. THE FAERIE QUEENE
XVIII. THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE
XIX. ENGLAND’S HELICON
XX. HAKLUYT’S VOYAGES
XXI. ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY

FROM THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH TO THE RESTORATION
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
XXII. THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING
XXIII. THE ALCHEMIST
XXIV. THE TEMPLE
XXV. THE HESPERIDES

THE RESTORATION PERIOD
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
XXVI. PARADISE LOST
XXVII. ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL
XXVIII. THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

BOOK TWO

THE AUGUSTAN AGE
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
XXIX. THE TATLER: THE SPECTATOR
XXX. THE RAPE OF THE LOCK: THE ESSAY ON MAN
XXXI. ROBINSON CRUSOE
XXXII. THE JOURNAL TO STELLA: GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
XXXIII. THE SEASONS

LATER EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
XXXIV. PAMELA: JOSEPH ANDREWS
XXXV. JOHNSON’S DICTIONARY: THE LIVES OF THE POETS
XXXVI. THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD
XXXVII. THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
XXXVIII. EVELINA
XXXIX. THE TASK
XL. THE POEMS OF ROBERT BURNS

EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
XLI. THE LYRICAL BALLADS
XLII. BYRON’S CHILDE HAROLD: SHELLEY’S LYRICS
XLIII. ENDYMION
XLIV. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
XLV. THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL: WAVERLEY
XLVI. THE ESSAYS OF ELIA

THE VICTORIAN AGE
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
XLVII. VANITY FAIR
XLVIII. DAVID COPPERFIELD
XLIX. JANE EYRE
L. SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE
LI. SARTOR RESARTUS
LII. MODERN PAINTERS
LIII. THE IDYLLS OF THE KING
LIV. BELLS AND POMEGRANATES: AURORA LEIGH
LV. THYRSIS: CULTURE AND ANARCHY
LVI. KIDNAPPED: CATRIONA