An Outline History of English Literature - William Henry Hudson

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Outline History of English Literature
• Author: William Henry Hudson
• Revised by: S. S. Sharma
• ISBN-13: 9788197424533
• Pages: 300
• Edition: First Revised Edition (2020); Reprint 2026
• Binding: Paperback
• Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
• Genre: Literature & Fiction > Literary History & Criticism > English Literature > Literary Periods & Movements
• Recommended Age Group: Undergraduate Students, Postgraduate Students, Researchers & Adult Readers (16+ years)
• Reading Difficulty: Moderate
• Estimated Reading Time to Finish: 10–12 hours
• Price: ₹395

Description

An Outline History of English Literature by William Henry Hudson, revised by S. S. Sharma, is a clear, systematic, and student-friendly survey of English literary history from the pre-Chaucerian period to the modern and post-modern age. Designed for students, teachers, researchers, and general readers of literature, the book presents English literature not merely as a sequence of authors and texts, but as a living historical development shaped by social, cultural, intellectual, and political forces.

Beginning with early English writing before Chaucer, the book traces the growth of major literary forms through the Age of Chaucer, the Renaissance, the Elizabethan drama, the Age of Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden, Pope, Johnson, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Hardy, and the modern period. It discusses poetry, prose, drama, and the novel in relation to the literary spirit of each age, helping readers understand how writers responded to the changing conditions of their times. Important literary figures such as Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, John Milton, John Dryden, William Wordsworth, Alfred Tennyson, T. S. Eliot, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and others are placed within the larger movement of English literary tradition.

The revised edition extends the usefulness of Hudson’s classic outline by bringing the discussion up to later modern and post-modern contexts. Its compact structure, chronological arrangement, and accessible style make it especially valuable for examination preparation, classroom teaching, and independent study. By combining literary facts with historical interpretation, the book offers readers a balanced understanding of English literature as both artistic achievement and cultural record.

Key Features

• Comprehensive outline of English literary history.
• Covers pre-Chaucerian writing to modern literature.
• Revised by S. S. Sharma for updated academic use.
• Discusses poetry, prose, drama, and the novel.
• Places authors within their historical contexts.
• Includes major writers from Chaucer to Beckett.
• Useful for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
• Clear chronological structure for easy study.
• Helpful for exams, teaching, and quick revision.
• Compact paperback format for classroom reference.

Manufacturer Details

• Manufacturer: Doaba Corporation
• Imprint: Doaba Publications
• Email: care@doababooks.com
• Address: 4551-16, Shanti Mohan House, 16 Ansari Road, Daryaganj - 110002
• Published by: Doaba Publications
• Websites: www.doabapublications.com | www.doababooks.com
• Typeset at: Sunshine Graphics
• Printed in: India
• Year: 2026