A History of Elizabethan Literature   By: George Saintsbury (1845-1933)

ELIZABETHAN LITERATURE

A HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE In Six Volumes, Crown 8vo. ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE NORMAN CONQUEST. By Rev. STOPFORD A. BROOKE, M.A. 8s. 6d. ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO CHAUCER. By Prof. W. H. SCHOFIELD, Ph.D. 8s. 6d. THE AGE OF CHAUCER. By Professor W. H. SCHOFIELD, Ph.D. [ In preparation. ELIZABETHAN LITERATURE (1560 1665). By GEORGE SAINTSBURY. 8s. 6d. EIGHTEENTH CENTURY LITERATURE (1660 1780). By EDMUND GOSSE, M.A. 8s. 6d. NINETEENTH CENTURY LITERATURE (1780 1900). By GEORGE SAINTSBURY. 8s. 6d. By GEORGE SAINTSBURY. A SHORT HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. Crown 8vo. 10s. Also in five Parts. 2s. 6d. each. A HISTORY OF ENGLISH PROSODY FROM THE TWELFTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT DAY. 3 vols. 8vo. Vol. I. From the Origins to Spenser. 12s. 6d. net. Vol. II. From Shakespeare to Crabbe. 18s. net. Vol. III. From Blake to Mr. Swinburne. 18s. net. HISTORICAL MANUAL OF ENGLISH PROSODY. Crown 8vo. 6s. 6d. net. A HISTORY OF THE FRENCH NOVEL. 8vo. Vol. I. From the Beginning to 1880. 18s. net. Vol. II. From 1800 to 1900. 18s. net. A HISTORY OF ENGLISH PROSE RHYTHM. 8vo. 18s. net. LIFE OF DRYDEN. Library Edition. Crown 8vo, 3s. net; Pocket Edition, Fcap. 8vo, 2s. net. [ English Men of Letters. A FIRST BOOK OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. Globe 8vo. Sewed, 2s. Stiff Boards, 2s. 3d. NOTES ON A CELLAR BOOK. Small 4to. 7s. 6d. net. MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON.

A HISTORY

OF

ELIZABETHAN LITERATURE

BY

GEORGE SAINTSBURY

MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON 1920

COPYRIGHT

First Edition 1887. Second Edition 1890.

Reprinted 1893, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1901, 1903, 1907, 1910, 1913, 1918, 1920.

PREFACE TO NINTH EDITION