A Short History of Early Modern England: British Literature in Context

The English Renaissance produced some of the greatest literary works the world has ever known, from the Faerie Queene and Paradise Lost to Hamlet and Macbeth. A Short History of Early Modern England presents students with the crucial historical and cultural information necessary for a richer appreciation and deeper understanding of the literature produced in this period. Following an overview of England s political and social structures, subsequent chapters explore key historical and literary events, from the Wars of the Roses to the publication of John Milton s Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, with particular attention to the major political and religious developments throughout this transformative era. Written in a clear and accessible style, this is the perfect text to help students familiarize themselves with this remarkable period in English literary history.

Aims and Acknowledgements.

Quoting from Early Modern Texts.

Illustrations.

England s Rulers From Richard II to Charles II.

Timeline of Key Events.

1 An Overview of Early Modern England.

2 The Back–Story of the Tudor Dynasty: From Richard II to Henry VII.

3 Henry VII, Henry VIII, and the Henrician Era (1509 47).

4 Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, and Mary I (1547 53).

5 The Elizabethan Era (1558 1603).

6 The Reign of King James VI/I (1603 25).

7 Charles I (1625 42): From Accession to the Beginning of the Civil Wars.

8 The Civil Wars, the Commonwealth, and the Early Restoration (1642 71).

Index.

Peter C. Herman is Professor of English and Comparative Literature, San Diego State University, USA. His previous books include Royal Poetrie: Monarchic Verse and the Political Imaginary of Early Modern England (2010) and Destabilizing Milton: Paradise Lost and the Poetics of Incertitude(2008). His essays have appeared in Renaissance Quarterly, SEL, and Criticism.