A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present
An ideal introduction and a reliable guide for students and teachers of European literature

Uniquely broad in both geographic and chronological scope, A History of European Literature introduces students to the origins, influences, and historical development of European poetry, drama, and fictional prose. Authors Theo D'haen and Anders Pettersson provide an easily accessible narrative history of European literature while contextualizing the cultural, material, and intellectual conditions in which literary works were produced and experienced.

Assuming only minimal familiarity with the subject, this student-friendly textbook explores European literature in its many manifestations, starting from its origins in European antiquity, through the Medieval period and early modern Europe, to the opening years of the twenty-first century. Clear, jargon-free chapters contain a wealth of citations from both well-known and lesser-known works of European literature, including Greek and Roman oratory and philosophy, early Christian literature, literary expressions of Enlightenment thought, secular non-classical drama, eighteenth-century novels, modernist poetry, and many more.

Providing a balanced and up-to-date foundation in the literary tradition of Europe, A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present:

  • Offers a comprehensive yet highly readable survey of more than two millennia of European literary history
  • Presents a consistent and unified view of European literary history by two leading scholars in the field
  • Discusses the cross-connections and mutual influences between Europe and other cultural and literary traditions
  • Highlights the differences between ancient and modern concepts of literary production and reception
  • Includes coverage of writers in European languages who were born elsewhere but active in Europe

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

1147216560
A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present
An ideal introduction and a reliable guide for students and teachers of European literature

Uniquely broad in both geographic and chronological scope, A History of European Literature introduces students to the origins, influences, and historical development of European poetry, drama, and fictional prose. Authors Theo D'haen and Anders Pettersson provide an easily accessible narrative history of European literature while contextualizing the cultural, material, and intellectual conditions in which literary works were produced and experienced.

Assuming only minimal familiarity with the subject, this student-friendly textbook explores European literature in its many manifestations, starting from its origins in European antiquity, through the Medieval period and early modern Europe, to the opening years of the twenty-first century. Clear, jargon-free chapters contain a wealth of citations from both well-known and lesser-known works of European literature, including Greek and Roman oratory and philosophy, early Christian literature, literary expressions of Enlightenment thought, secular non-classical drama, eighteenth-century novels, modernist poetry, and many more.

Providing a balanced and up-to-date foundation in the literary tradition of Europe, A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present:

  • Offers a comprehensive yet highly readable survey of more than two millennia of European literary history
  • Presents a consistent and unified view of European literary history by two leading scholars in the field
  • Discusses the cross-connections and mutual influences between Europe and other cultural and literary traditions
  • Highlights the differences between ancient and modern concepts of literary production and reception
  • Includes coverage of writers in European languages who were born elsewhere but active in Europe

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

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A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present

A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present

A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present

A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present

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Overview

An ideal introduction and a reliable guide for students and teachers of European literature

Uniquely broad in both geographic and chronological scope, A History of European Literature introduces students to the origins, influences, and historical development of European poetry, drama, and fictional prose. Authors Theo D'haen and Anders Pettersson provide an easily accessible narrative history of European literature while contextualizing the cultural, material, and intellectual conditions in which literary works were produced and experienced.

Assuming only minimal familiarity with the subject, this student-friendly textbook explores European literature in its many manifestations, starting from its origins in European antiquity, through the Medieval period and early modern Europe, to the opening years of the twenty-first century. Clear, jargon-free chapters contain a wealth of citations from both well-known and lesser-known works of European literature, including Greek and Roman oratory and philosophy, early Christian literature, literary expressions of Enlightenment thought, secular non-classical drama, eighteenth-century novels, modernist poetry, and many more.

Providing a balanced and up-to-date foundation in the literary tradition of Europe, A History of European Literature: From Antiquity to the Present:

  • Offers a comprehensive yet highly readable survey of more than two millennia of European literary history
  • Presents a consistent and unified view of European literary history by two leading scholars in the field
  • Discusses the cross-connections and mutual influences between Europe and other cultural and literary traditions
  • Highlights the differences between ancient and modern concepts of literary production and reception
  • Includes coverage of writers in European languages who were born elsewhere but active in Europe

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


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781394235841
Publisher: Wiley
Publication date: 11/18/2025
Pages: 480
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Theo D'haen is Emeritus professor of English, American, and Comparative Literature at the University of Leiden, Netherlands, and the University of Leuven, Belgium. He is former President of The International Federation for Modern Languages and Literatures (FILLM). D'haen has authored and co-authored 13 books, edited or co-edited more than 50 books, and published over 200 journal articles and book chapters. Recent publications include A History of World Literature, World Literature in an Age of Geopolitics, and Literature: A World History, Volume II.

Anders Pettersson is Emeritus Professor of Swedish and Comparative Literature at Umeo University, Sweden, and a former Vice-President of the International Comparative Literature Association. His main research interests are fundamental literary theory and transcultural literary history. Pettersson has published six monographs, including The Idea of a Text and the Nature of Textual, and edited or co-edited seven books, most recently the first volume of Wiley-Blackwell's Literature: A World History.

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