A Little History of Literature
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Yale University Press
Published:8th Apr '25
Should be back in stock very soon
A vibrant guide to the world of literature, from dramatic plays to engrossing novels
Literature has inspired every civilisation, from Greek myth to today’s graphic novels. John Sutherland, who has researched, taught and written on the entire glorious span of human literary activity, here guides readers on a journey ‘through the looking glass’ to show how literature from across the world can transport us, transfix us, and teach us about ourselves.
He introduces key works, from the Epic of Gilgamesh and Shakespeare to T.S. Eliot, George Orwell and Margaret Atwood, and looks afresh at literature’s links to power, identity and taste. From the rude jokes within Anglo-Saxon riddles to the guilty pleasures of potboilers and fan fiction, this celebratory guide offers wit, humour and deep learning to all who enjoy literature, and who want to understand it anew.
Little Histories – Inspiring Guides for Curious Minds
"Written in prose that is clear and free from the diktat of theory and criticism, A Little History of Literature is an enjoyable account of a lifelong involvement with literature."—John Vukmirovich, Times Literary Supplement
"As a guidebook, it's a cracker. What Sutherland has to offer is formidable breadth of reading, a generous spirit and a rebounding enthusiasm for his subject."—Sam Leith, Spectator
"A Little History of Literature, which begins with Beowulf and ends with bestsellers, is primarily a guide for teenagers, and John Sutherland brings to the vast and unruly subject some order, clarity and commonsense."—Frances Wilson, New Statesman
"I suspect that an expert like John Sutherland could have written this highly entertaining and informative history without recourse to any research at all, having it pretty much at his fingertips; and it reads extremely well, as though he is simply having a chat with us about literature and why it matters."—Lesley McDowell, Independent on Sunday
"John Sutherland is among the handful of critics whose every book I must have. He's sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued, with a generous heart and a wise head."—Jay Parini
ISBN: 9780300283419
Dimensions: 197mm x 127mm x 25mm
Weight: unknown
288 pages