This book, designed to be a text for Indian students, traces lucidly the history of English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day. Thus, the book is an essence of English literature spanning 1500 years. Abstractions have been avoided to the extent possible and wherever generalisations have been made they have been substantiated with samples of evidence. This will lure encourage readers to read classics, understand the style of the writer, and whet their intellectual spirits. With its coverage and approach the book will not only be useful for students in India but also for those of other countries where English is taught as a foreign language.