Norton Anthology of English Literature books in order

Stephen Greenblatt serves as general editor of this long-running literary anthology, which has introduced generations of students to British literature from medieval times to the present.
Series · Non-Fiction · Literary Criticism · Reference

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1 1962 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
2 The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 2 1962 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
3 The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Revised, Volume 2 1993 Stephen Greenblatt N/A
4 The Norton Anthology Of English Literature: The Major Authors 1987 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
5 The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Major Authors 1996 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
6 The Romantic Period 1999 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
7 The Victorian Age 1999 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
8 The Twentieth Century & After 1999 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
9 Norton Anthology of English Literature 2003 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
10 The Norton Anthology of Modern & Contemporary Poetry, Vol 1: Modern Poetry 2003 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
11 The Restoration & the Eighteenth Century 2005 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
12 The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. F: The Twentieth Century & After 2005 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
13 The Norton Anthology Of English Literature, Vol. B: The Romantic Period Through The Twentieth Century And After 2006 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
14 Major Authors, Vol.1 2013 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
15 Major Authors, Vol. 2 2013 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
16 The Middle Ages 2018 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
17 Norton Anthology of English Literature 9e The Major Authors V1 + Norton Anthology of English Literature 9e V1 Ebook Folder 2019 Stephen Greenblatt Buy
18 The Sixteenth and Early Seventeenth Century 2024 Stephen Greenblatt Buy

The Norton Anthology of English Literature has been a standard textbook in American universities since its first edition in 1962. M. H. Abrams, a scholar of Romanticism, served as general editor for the first seven editions before Norton asked Greenblatt to join the team in the mid-1990s as Abrams’s deputy. Greenblatt was already editing The Norton Shakespeare when he took on this role. He has since guided multiple editions of the anthology through the changing landscape of literary studies.

The anthology presents British literature from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century, including poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction prose. Each period receives an extensive introduction explaining the historical and cultural context. The anthology includes canonical writers like Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, and Woolf, as well as lesser-known voices. Under Greenblatt’s editorship, the anthology has expanded to include more women writers, writers of color, and texts that reflect Britain’s colonial history and multicultural present.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Norton Anthology of English Literature series?

There are 18 books in the Norton Anthology of English Literature series, published between 1962 and 2024.

What is the first book in the Norton Anthology of English Literature series?

The first book in the Norton Anthology of English Literature series is The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1, published in 1962.

What role does Greenblatt play in the Norton Anthology?

Greenblatt became general editor in the 1990s, succeeding M. H. Abrams, who had edited the first seven editions. He oversees the anthology’s selection of texts, introductory essays, and annotations, working with a team of distinguished scholars.

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