Widely acknowledged as one of the most volatile eras in British history, 17th-century England endured turbulent political, social and religious changes as it progressed from the medieval to the threshold of the modern world. This period simultaneously witnessed the emergence of numerous prominent literary figures-nondramatic poets who vivified these events for future generations in odes, elegies, allegories and metaphysical verse. Readers can trace these happenings and their impact upon English literary life through profiles of 27 major authors in this DLB volume. Also included is an appendix covering the minor poets of the same period and a list of readings for further study.

27 ENTRIES INCLUDE: Joseph Beaumont, Thomas Carew, Richard Crashaw, Sir William Davenant, Owen Felltham, George Herbert, Robert Herrick, Diana Primrose, Francis Quarles, Rachel Speght, William Strode, Edmund Waller.