A History of European Literature

An ideal introduction and a reliable guide for students and teachers of European literature

Uniquely broad in both geographic and chronological scope, A History of European Literature introduces students to the origins, influences, and historical development of European poetry, drama, and fictional prose. Authors Theo D'haen and Anders Pettersson provide an easily accessible narrative history of European literature while contextualising the cultural, material, and intellectual conditions in which literary works were produced and experienced.

Assuming only minimal familiarity with the subject, this student-friendly textbook explores European literature in its many manifestations, starting from its origins in European antiquity, through the Medieval period and early modern Europe, to the opening years of the twenty-first century. Clear, jargon-free chapters contain a wealth of citations from both well-known and lesser-known works of European literature, including Greek and Roman oratory and philosophy, early Christian literature, literary expressions of Enlightenment thought, secular non-classical drama, eighteenth-century novels, modernist poetry, and many more.

Providing a balanced and up-to-date foundation in the literary tradition of Europe, A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present:

• Offers a comprehensive yet highly readable survey of more than two millennia of European literary history
• Presents a consistent and unified view of European literary history by two leading scholars in the field
• Discusses the cross-connections and mutual influences between Europe and other cultural and literary traditions
• Highlights the differences between ancient and modern concepts of literary production and reception
• Includes coverage of writers in European languages who were born elsewhere but active in Europe

Integrating contemporary literary theory throughout, including postmodern and postcolonial perspectives, A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present is the perfect textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in Comparative Literature, European Literature, and World Literature, as well as relevant courses in Cultural Studies, History, and European Studies programmes.