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<p>Aims and Acknowledgements vi</p> <p>Quoting from Early Modern Texts ix</p> <p>Illustrations x</p> <p>England’s Rulers From Richard II to Charles II xi</p> <p>Timeline of Key Events xii</p> <p>1 An Overview of Early Modern England 1</p> <p>2 The Back-Story of the Tudor Dynasty: From Richard II to Henry VII 27</p> <p>3 Henry VII, Henry VIII, and the Henrician Era (1509–47) 59</p> <p>4 Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, and Mary I (1547–53) 92</p> <p>5 The Elizabethan Era (1558–1603) 115</p> <p>6 The Reign of King James VI/I (1603–25) 149</p> <p>7 Charles I (1625–42): From Accession to the Beginning of the Civil Wars 181</p> <p>8 The Civil Wars, the Commonwealth, and the Early</p> <p>Restoration (1642–71) 214</p> <p>Index 252</p>

"Here is much more of both information and entertainment than one expects from a "short history"! Summing Up: Highly recommended." (Choice, 1 October 2011)<br /> <br /> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p><b>PETER C. HERMAN</b> is Professor of English and Comparative Literature, San Diego State University, USA. His previous books include <i>Royal Poetrie: Monarchic Verse</i> and <i>the Political Imaginary of Early Modern England</i> (2010) and <i>Destabilizing Milton: "Paradise Lost"</i> <i>and</i> <i>the Poetics of Incertitude</i> (2008). His essays have appeared in <i>Renaissance Quarterly, SEL</i>, and <i>Criticism</i>.

<p>The Early Modern period in England produced some of the greatest literary works the world has ever known, from the <i>Faerie Queene</i> and <i>Paradise Lost</i> to <i>Dr. Faustus</i> and <i>Macbeth</i>. <i>A Short History of Early Modern England</i> presents students with the crucial historical and cultural information necessary for a richer appreciation and deeper understanding of the literature produced in this period. Following an overview of England's political and social structures, subsequent chapters explore key historical and literary events, from the Wars of the Roses to the publication of John Milton's <i>Paradise Regained</i> and <i>Samson Agonistes,</i> with particular attention to the major political and religious developments throughout this transformative era. Written in a clear and accessible style, this is the perfect text to help students familiarize themselves with this remarkable period in English literary history.

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