The spread of the English language around the globe is one of the most remarkable facts of recent times. A hardly less remarkable fact is that today, English literature is produced by very many countries of the world. No longer just the literature of England (part of a small island off the north-west coast of Europe), it has become ‘literature in English’, written no matter where. And many Africans are today among its distinguished practitioners, with an international audience and renown.

The story of this growth and spread nevertheless begins in England. It is a long, rich story, one that has to be understood against the background of various political, social and other developments. The history of the literature moreover cannot really be separated from the history of the language

This book is unique in providing a clear, straightforward outline of this two-fold history, together with a sketch of the ‘background’ to it. As such, it will prove to be an indispensable companion for students at tertiary level, both undergraduate and postgraduate. The general reader will also find it a source of fascinating information