Review (PDF) The Norton Anthology Of English Literature (Single-Volume Edition)
Read by millions of students over seven editions, The Norton Anthology of English Literature remains the most trusted undergraduate survey of English literature available and one of the most successful college texts ever published. Firmly grounded by the hallmark strengths of all Norton Anthologies―thorough and helpful introductory matter, judicious annotation, complete texts wherever possible―The Norton Anthology of English Literature, The Major Authors has been revitalized in this Eighth Edition through the collaboration between six new editors and six seasoned ones. Under the direction of Stephen Greenblatt, General Editor, the editors have reconsidered all aspects of the anthology to make it an even better teaching tool.
Hardcover: 3024 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 8th edition (March 15, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0393928284
ISBN-13: 978-0393928280
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 2.7 x 9.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #607,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #262 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias & Subject Guides > Literature #421 in Books > Literature & Fiction > British & Irish > Literature #444 in Books > Textbooks > Reference > Encyclopedias
The 8th edition of the Norton Anthology of English Literature is edited by Greenblatt and contains "the major authors" only. This thorough overview of the genre ranges from 15 c. Anglo Saxon literature (including Seamus Heaney's translation of "Beowulf") to some contemporary British literature (including work by JM Coetzee and Salman Rushdie). The selections are good ones and do not seem to suffer from a single editorial point of view or tone (unlike the Penguin survey edition of modern literature that is, frankly, a complete downer). This Norton edition includes classics such as John Donne's "Meditation 17", Swift's "A Modest Proposal", Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", an excerpt from Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication on the Rights of Women", "Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own" and so on (it might be a bit thin on the ladies but what is included is the good stuff). As an English teacher and probable reference freak, I am pleased with it.
While there have been changes made to the Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1 (or A), there's no mistaking that in its genre, this is a masterpiece. It's easy to quibble with which selections make it in and which versions are used, etc. But this is an incredibly rich resource of early English literature.This is one of the books that helped foster my love of literature, and that of many others. It is a portal to any number of authors you wish to read in more detail. It's hard not to love a book that gives you introductions to the following authors and works - and many, many more!Bede and BeowulfThe Anglo-Saxon ChronicleSir Gawain and the Green KnightChaucer's Canterbury TalesJulian of NorwichThomas Mallory and the Arthurian LegendsSir Thomas More and UtopiaWilliam Tyndale, John Calvin, John FoxeThe Book of Common PrayerQueen ElizabethSpencer's The Fairie QueeneSir Walter RaleighMany of Shakespeare's sonnets and 2 of his playsJohn DonneFrancis BaconGeorge HerbertJohn DrydenJonathan SwiftAlexander PopeAnd John BunyanThe Norton Anthology series does exactly what it should: introduce its readers to a smorgasbord of the best of English literature. Don't let the size or price daunt you. The size is worth it for the breadth and depth of content. As for price, there are many inexpensive used editions around, going back to many earlier editions.This book should be on every bookshelf!
I had to purchase this for a class last year, and found it extremely helpful in understanding the works included because of the detailed introductions and headnotes for each author. But when the class was done, I sold the book for the refund. Big mistake, because another class ended up requiring it this semester.So, I bought it again. It is a mammoth book. About 3" thick and densely packed with material (it had previously been a two-book set years ago). Even though having one book is convenient, it is really a beast to lug around.Everything is positive about this book except the paper is very thin, almost like a vellum, so notetaking is difficult. On the other hand, you can sell it back for almost what it cost, so it was cost effective, even buying it twice! I think I will end up keeping this as a reference as it's so comprehensive.It's highly footnoted, which means Beowulf actually made sense, but The Fairie Queen was still next to impossible!
This edition of the Norton Anthology should be required for any literate person to own and at least leaf through, if not completely consume. It's a terrific collection of the bests of English literature, with very insightful footnotes on each piece. A good purchase, and was a good choice for my professor, who assigned it as the text for an Eng. Lit course. The only problem was the size - this tome is a monster! Definitely not something to carry to the beach, or even on a plane.
I'll keep this review short.I was surprised that this was a single volume. Just be aware that this is not the complete version of four books into one but rather just "The major authors".If you want the complete version, you have to buy the multiple volume version.
I ordered this book for my literature studies and it is an excellent resource or English poetry, prose and literature. Not only was it more economical to order from , but it came sooner than expected. If you want one of the best companions for lit, this it the one.
A tremendous bargain! Book (used) arrived in excellent condition in a timely manner. If you want a chronological presentation of America's highest quality poetry and prose up to about 1945, I cannot imagine you can do better.
I did not read the whole thing, of course, but in my spare time I like to read other things that we did not get to in class. I plan on reading the whole thing by the end of next year, but I doubt that that will happen!
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