This five-volume set puts English literature in context by providing the historical, cultural, and social background of each major period. Each volume is a basic introduction to the period: its history, leaders, important laws, social and religious movements, scientific developments, and details of daily life in different regions and classes within Great Britain. The set summarizes the literary genres of each period and discusses representative writers and works. Each volume includes: A timeline of events in science, technology, the arts, literature, and history; A glossary of terms related to the period; A biographical glossary of major writers; Recommended books and websites for further research; Color illustrations of artwork and architecture related to the literature of each period.