English Literature: A Very Short Introduction discusses why literature matters, how narrative works, and what is distinctly English about English literature. Jonathan Bate considers how we determine the content of the field, and looks at the three major kinds of imaginative literature - English poetry, English drama and The English novel.

A tapestry of Elizabethan beliefs and obsessions, private passions and political intrigues. It leads you on a tour of the extraordinary, colorful and often violent world that shaped and informed Shakespeare's thinking.

Illustrated with photographs of performances chosen by RSC Directors, tis title features on-page notes which explain words and phrases unfamiliar to a modern audience. It is suitable for undergraduates or A-level students of Literature or Drama; lecturers or teachers of Literature or Drama.