English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction

"English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History" by Henry Coppée is an academic exploration connecting British literature with its rich historical backdrop, written in the 19th century. The book explains how writers and their creations mirrored historical happenings, studying major authors like Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Milton in relation to their historical eras. The introduction sets the stage for an analysis that goes above a simple timeline by laying out Coppée's plan to examine the historical context of English literature within important social and political events, tracing the evolution of the English language through conquests and various cultural influences, building a framework showing how literature relates to the history that shaped it.