Doing English ─ A Guide for Literature Students

Doing English presents the ideas and debates that shape how we ‘do’ English today, explaining arguments about the value of literature, the canon, Shakespeare, theory, politics, and the subject itself.

In his lucid and engaging style, Robert Eaglestone:

• ?Orients students by encouraging them to think about what they are doing when they study literature
• ? Bridges the gap between English at A-level and International Baccalaureate to English in Higher Education by exploring traditional and theoretical approaches to literature and explaining key ideas and trends
• ? Explains to students why English, more than any other subject, is the cause of public debate and concern in the media and amongst politicians and educators.

This popular and classic guide has been fully updated throughout, to take account of recent research, educational changes and current events, and now includes a chapter called ‘Why Study English?’ – showing how and why the skills taught by English are transferable to a range of careers. This immensely readable book is the ideal introduction to studying English Literature.

Robert Eaglestone is Professor of Contemporary Literature and Thought at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is widely published and has advised UK government’s Qualifications and Curriculum Development Authority, DfE and OfQual, and sits on the subject panels for English Literature for OCR. In 2014 he won a HEFCE-funded National Teaching Fellowship Award.