A Brief History of English and American Literature


Read by Kalynda

(4.9 stars; 7 reviews)

Henry Augustin Beers, native of Buffalo, NY and professor of English at Yale, with the help of John Fletcher Hurst (1834-1903), Methodist bishop and first Chancellor of American University, has written a sweeping thousand 900 year history of English literature, up to the end of the 19th century. Although at times biased and sometimes misguided (as when he dismisses Mark Twain as a humorist noteworthy in his time but not for the ages), his research is sound and his criticism is interesting and quite often very balanced. In addition, the last chapter of each part is Hurst's synopsis of religious and theological literature in the language. This book is interesting for its point of view, but also useful as a jumping-off point for those interested in reading the classics. (Summary by Kalynda) (14 hr 24 min)

Chapters

Introduction, Preface 7:59 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter I - From the Conquest to Chaucer, 1066-1400 47:04 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter II - From Chaucer to Spenser, 1400-1599 47:39 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter III - The Age of Shakspere, 1564-1616 1:09:40 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter IV - The Age of Milton, 1608-1674 53:12 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter V - From the Restoration to the Death of Pope, 1660-1744 45:02 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter VI - From the Death of Pope to the French Revolution, 1744-1789 43:17 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter VII - From the French Revolution to the Death of Scott, 1789-18… 1:04:07 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter VIII - From the Death of Scott to the Present Time, 1832-1886 49:47 Read by Kalynda
Part 1, Chapter IX - Theological and Religious Literature in Great Britain 26:15 Read by Kalynda
Part 2, Preface & Chapter I - The Colonial Period, 1607-1765 1:04:11 Read by Kalynda
Part 2, Chapter II - The Revolutionary Period, 1765-1815 48:54 Read by Kalynda
Part 2, Chapter III - The Era of National Expansion, 1815-1837 47:31 Read by Kalynda
Part 2, Chapter IV - The Concord Writers, 1837-1861 54:25 Read by Kalynda
Part 2, Chapter V - The Cambridge Scholars, 1837-1861 54:50 Read by Kalynda
Part 2, Chapter VI - Literature in the Cities, 1837-1861 56:53 Read by Kalynda
Part 2, Chapter VII - Literature since 1861 58:17 Read by Kalynda
Part 2, Chapter VIII - Theological and Religious Literature in America 25:46 Read by Kalynda

Reviews


(5 stars)

Wonderful reading with great enunciation and enthusiasm.