3 Review(s)

A Critical History Of English Literature (Volume - I) is an interesting historical account of European and English literature traced through twelve centuries of highs and lows. Summary Of The Book The folklores, the magicians, the monsters in dreary dark dungeons, the lusty neighbor, the brave warrior, the society in tatters, the jealous husband, the possessive lover, the politics of power, the battles lost and won are just a few highlights of twelve centuries of rich English Literature. To give a comprehensive understanding of this enriching passage of time when the social construction was broken and mended, hearts were lost and won, and kings killed by their alliances for authority and prowess have been beautifully compiled by Professor David Daiches in his A Critical History Of English Literature (Volume - I). The book is a compulsory read for all those pursuing English literature as major in their graduation. For other literary aspirants and knowledge seekers, this book is an account of English history as it rolled through the tides of time. With factual details and critical insights, Professor Daiches has brought a remarkable volume of poets, novelists, dramatists, thinkers, philosophers and social creators of every period in precise details. Starting from Anglo-Saxon Literature the book traces the graph of English society with special attention to each individual period till the 1700s. The book is widely popular all across the globe and is a ‘must posses’ for literature enthusiasts. About David Daiches Coming from a Jewish background, Daiches has stood witness to two world Wars during his lifetime. He has been a prolific writer and a meritorious student. His other works include The Place of Meaning in Poetry, published in 1935, The Novel and the Modern World (1939), The Norton Anthology of English Literature (co-editor,1962), Penguin Companion to Literature - Britain and the Commonwealth (editor,1971). Along with critical and biographical works on Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginia Woolf, Robert Burns, John Milton, D. H. Lawrence, and Sir Walter Scott, he has also authored autobiographies in two volumes. He has penned down his knowledge on Scotch Whisky, written on the King James Bible, the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, has been the composer behind the biographical account of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and has also portrayed his poetic skills in his volume of poetry. Daiches’s type of writing is comprehensible, witty and simple. Meant for students to build their foundation in European and English literature, Daiches takes recourse to simple, engaging and intensive art or presenting his facts, figures, insights and critical appraisals. A writer, scholar, literary critic and a historian, David Daiches has held innumerable teaching posts ranging from Balliol College, Indiana University, Cornell University, Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Jesus College, the University of Chicago, Cambridge to the University of Minnesota, McMaster University in Canada,  and the University of California. He has held several authoritative positions in the literary world and has been the chairperson of the 1980 Booker Prize judges’ panel.