British prose writers of the early seventeenth century /

The strength of this volume comes from the quality of the 33 individual author entries, among them Lancelot Andrewes, Francis Bacon, John Donne, John Milton, and Izaak Walton. Each section, written by a specialist, includes a bibliography of primary and secondary sources, plus a summary and analytical essay regarding the individual author. These essays vary in length from a few pages to 10 or more, depending on the importance of the figure. A considerable number of black-and-white illustrations, mostly of the authors' original works, enhance the volume. Obviously this compilation could not include every prose writer of the early 17th century, but a few individuals, such as Chillingworth, wrote enough during the period and are important enough to be included, perhaps in a summary article on minor writers. Still, as a one-volume introduction, this book does provide the quick overview of biographical information and of the literary, religious, and political background that serious students would need. Upper-division through faculty. W. Miller; Florida Atlantic University