The Penguin Guide to English Literature

by Ronald Carter, John McRae

A revised version of "The History of Literature in English", this book is aimed at students of EFL at intermediate level. It has eight short chapters on literature from 500 AD to the present.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literature, School

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 2001

Reviews

[jóhanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting facts were presented and a very easy read BUT the authors were clearly so patriotic it bordered on being ridiculous. We get it, you love England and the English language and Shakespeare is "the greatest playwright ever" but as an academic book written by two professors I was expecting more unbiased facts. Also, they treated every reader like the biggest dum dum in the world and instead of being helpful it just felt very patronising. Trust me, if I don't understand the words presented, I probably have no business reading this book, so stop filling the pages with "oh btw prologue means introduction", "chronicle = record of events, "non = not" , etc.

[Linn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's very pro-England. Yes, it is a book about British Literature, but I think that a university book should be a little less opinionated. Also, I don't like that they mention the rise of the fantasy and sf-genres without saying anything more about them (come on, TOLKIEN & PRATCHETT!!!). However, if you want a survey book about British Literature from Beowulf to Agatha Christie, this one does the job fairly well.

[Judy Soukupová · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dala bych taky 3,5 hvězdičky, mohlo to být i trochu lepší. Je to málo detailní, což mi trochu vadilo . Občas se tam začalo o něčem psát a začala se nějaká myšlenka ale nestihla se rozvést. Zároveň to ale má být shrnutí a pokud nevíte nic o britský literatuře, tak je to dobrej start. Nejvíc se mi líbily různý souhrny a timelines a celkově grafický zpracování. Taky tam bylo dost úryvků, což je fajn. Nejvíc mi vadil konec o moderní literatuře, kde byl fakt jen výpis autorů a děl, což mi přišlo na nic, protože si to takhle stejně nezapamatuju( na druhou stranu chápu že těch autorů je moc a nejde to všechno obsáhnout).

[The Midnights Bookclub · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information itself was very well presented and the writing was engaging. However, the consistent obsession with explaining what random words meant was insanely irritating. It was like having words mansplained to me throughout the whole book. I have compiled a short list of my absolute favourites:
bear = large, fierce animal
midsummer = middle of summer
goddess = female god
nightmare = frightening dream
in want of = needing
treasure Island = island of riches
demon = devil.

Genuinely don’t know how I would have understood a word of this book about literature written for ADVANCED English literature students.
I fear even upper intermediate English speakers should know all these words.

[Grísel Bogdan]

it is very interesting

[Stuart B. Jennings · Rating 2 out of 5]

very basic introduction, which at times is frustratingly shallow
If you know nothing about the subject, this will serve as a basic primer

[Edvin Nilsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn't even mention Tolkien. Disgraceful.

[Martina Bila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Príručka k literárnej histórii ktorou študentov mučím

[Jeerawat Sakkawatthana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise and good introduction to English Literature for students and those who love literature.