You've Got To Read This: A Beginner's Guide to Great Writers and the History of Books

This is an entertaining and fact-filled introduction to literature and writers.

A fascinating tour through history, from cave paintings to the present day: all-time greats like Dickens, Shakespeare, Austen, Twain, the Brontës and Orwell; genre favourites like Tolkien, Ian Fleming, Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle. An in-depth but easy-to-read guide to the lives and works of classic authors, plus related topics like story structure, the development of printing, the history of gothic horror, and even the world of comic book superheroes.

A rich and varied handbook, suitable for anyone who wants to find out more about literary history.

Comments from teachers:

"In our school, we've started using this as a standard book for background reading with [Key Stages] 3 and 4 English. I can't believe that nobody's written such a useful and accessible book on this subject before."

"It is detailed enough to be educational and wide-ranging enough to set the classics in context."

"At last there's something I can recommend to students and parents that isn't flippant like the Horrible Histories and their ilk. I like the way it balances seriousness and facts with being chatty... I can see myself using this volume for years to come."

"[Cheshire's] enthusiasm shines off every page... The chapter on what makes reading special should be read out in school assemblies regularly."

"What I liked best about this was the obvious love of literature on display. If pupils read this and don't want to go and try some of the titles and authors mentioned, there really is no hope!"

"I was very impressed with the way it introduces some quite advanced ideas in a straightforward way. It's not afraid to mix genre reading with more academic studies, and make both feel exciting and interesting."

"A useful guide which is very accessible."