This volume covers the period of Shakespeare’s own lifetime. It contains a long general survey of the English literary renaissance, and also an account of the social context of literature in the period. Then there follow a number of essays which consider in detail the work and importance of individual dramatists and poets and prose writers, but above all the dramatists, for this was their age: five of the essays are devoted to Shakespeare’s plays alone. Finally, this volume contains an appendix giving short author-biographies and, in each case, standard editions of author’s works, critical commentaries, and lists of books for further study and reference.