10 Books Every Student of English Literature Should Have

If you're interested in studying English literature, it's important to have a solid foundation of knowledge about the different forms, movements, and critical approaches that have shaped the field. To help you get started, we've compiled a list of the top ten guide books that offer a comprehensive overview of English literature, from the Middle Ages to the present day. From classic anthologies to comprehensive reference works, these guide books are essential resources for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of English literature.

Here are ten guide books that could be useful for studying English literature:

1. "The Bedford Introduction to Literature" - This comprehensive guide provides an overview of literary forms, movements, and critical approaches, and includes a wide range of literary texts from different periods and cultures.
2. "The Norton Anthology of English Literature" - This anthology is a comprehensive collection of English literature from the Middle Ages to the present day, and includes works by a wide range of authors and poets.
3. "The Longman Anthology of British Literature" - This anthology covers a wide range of British literature from the Middle Ages to the present day and includes works by major authors and poets such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Austen.
4. "The Norton Introduction to Literature" - This introduction to literature covers literary forms, movements, and critical approaches, and includes a wide range of literary texts from different periods and cultures.
5. "The Cambridge Companion to English Literature" - This guide provides an overview of English literature from the Middle Ages to the present day, and includes chapters on major authors, periods, and literary movements.
6. "The Oxford Companion to English Literature" - This comprehensive guide provides detailed information on a wide range of topics related to English literature, including authors, periods, literary movements, and critical approaches.
7. "The Literary Theory Handbook" - This handbook provides an overview of major theories and approaches to literary analysis, including structuralism, poststructuralism, feminism, and postcolonialism.
8. "The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics" - This comprehensive reference work provides detailed information on a wide range of topics related to poetry and poetics, including forms, styles, and critical approaches.
9. "The Oxford History of English Literature" - This guide provides an overview of English literature from the Middle Ages to the present day, and includes chapters on major authors, periods, and literary movements.
10. "The Cambridge History of English and American Literature" - This comprehensive reference work provides an overview of English and American literature from the Middle Ages to the present day, and includes chapters on major authors, periods, and literary movements.