March 1, 2011
Gr 10 Up-Both of these volumes include the backgrounds, impact, and legacy of the writers and how their craft developed as the demands of the reading public and literacy abilities changed. Labeled illustrations of authors and sometimes a depiction of their work appear along with a general chronological overview of literature throughout each period. Contributions of other cultures, politics, and religions and how they influenced the evolution of English as a vernacular language are documented throughout the surveys. Both books have sidebars or highlights taken from the New Encyclopedia Britannica that provide explanations of terms such as "epistolary novel," "patent theater," and "comedy of manners." The books are inclusive in scope and the length of a selection is in proportion to the subject's importance and influence; e.g., Caedmon is given one page, in contrast to the 50 pages devoted to Shakespeare, 30 to Milton, and 14 to Chaucer. As one would expect, the second title covers Keats, Shelley, and Byron; however, lesser-known writers like Charles Lamb, Thomas De Quincy, and Charlotte Smith are discussed as well. Each stage of the development of language, form, and writing is explained within its historical context or demonstrated with a particular piece of literature. Puritanism, Cromwell, religious upheaval, and the French Revolution are some of the topics considered. These are valuable additions to libraries looking for broad but clear overviews.-Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY
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