The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. 1 [Hardcover]

M. H. Abrams (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0393962873 | ISBN-13: 978-0393962871 | Publication Date: April 1993 | Edition: 6th

In this sixth edition, published in two volumes, greater attention has been paid to women authors, such as Aphra Behn whose "Oroonoko" is included. The anthology is presented in a new format and all supporting material is brought up to date.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 2600 pages
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc; 6th edition (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393962873
• ISBN-13: 978-0393962871
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #857,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Immaculate, October 12, 2000

By 

Manuel Haas - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Of course as a student one is bound to hesitate before spending fifty quid on a book, but this one is absolutely worth ist. Abrams and Greenblatt have not just gathered what is indispensable in English literature; the Norton Anthology features brilliant introductions and short biographies, which are concise and readable. All the works presented are scrupulously annotated. And finally the reader gets suggestions for further reading which really help.

There may be a bias towards poetry and high literature in the selection. Poetry, however, is the only genre in which an anthology of this size can give you almost everything you want to know. Individual edititons of classic novels or plays, however, are a lot easier to get hold of than books of poetry, so I feel the editors' choice is fully justified. You will find yourself turn back to the Norton Anthology even long after you have finished college; it is a book that opens up new worlds.

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars New Edition is Overpriced and Unnecessary, January 25, 2000

By 

Steven E. Cole - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I'm a university professor, and I've used the Norton anthologies in my surveys of English literature for years. But it's absurd that every few years, a new edition is brought out (with little or no substantive changes), forcing students to buy a new text rather than the used texts that are widely (and cheaply) available. A further absurdity is that the hardcover version of the 7th edition is only two dollars more than the paper. Anyone interested in buying the Norton anthologies for reading pleasure (rather than as a required text) would be just as well suited by a used copy of either the fifth or sixth editions.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cornerstone of the Canon, January 21, 2000

By 

N. Imbracsio (Somerville, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I am writing this not neccesarily as a review, but as a reply to some of the other reviews on the Norton Anthology of English Literature. The NAEL consists of mainly poetry is because for the most part that IS English Literature (Literature does not mean just BOOKS you know). In fact, the novel didn't exist until the 18th century. As for why it's assigned in classes (even if you don't read the entire thing)? Well, maybe your professor figured that it would be a valuable referrence book, as well as a life-long companion-- which it is.