A comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the literary tradition of Europe, written by noted scholars in the field

In A History of European Literature, Theo D'haen and Anders Pettersson survey the origins and development of European literature, starting from its earliest beginnings in European antiquity to the modern era. Covering the many manifestations and cross-connections of European literary tradition, this student-friendly textbook offers an accessible, thoroughly readable narrative history of both well-known and lesser-known European poetry, drama, and fictional prose.

Assuming only minimal familiarity with the subject, jargon-free chapters provide the foundational knowledge students need to engage in deeper explorations of Greek and Roman oratory and philosophy, Medieval Christian literature, Elizabethan drama, Enlightenment prose, eighteenth-century novels, modernist poetry, and more. Throughout the book, the authors provide insights into the varied cultural, material, and intellectual conditions under which European literary works were created and experienced.

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