PREFACE

This book is designed for those who are interested in learning historical backgrounds and development of English, American and Thai literature. Moreover, the book concentrates on some significant literary writers and their works in those countries.
It is believed that learning to understand and appreciate literary works helps strengthen our critical faculties and other skills useful elsewhere in our lives. In addition, literature can also make us aware of the rich complexity of our own experience. It is no exaggeration to say that literature can make us more fully human.
In designing this book, I want not only to introduce students to the literary history in England, America and Thailand but also to introduce them to literary works. So, I have begun with the three major genres –fiction, poetry, and drama-and a detailed discussion of the elements of composition a reader must master to understand them. After studying these following chapters, the student should be able to approach a literary work on its own terms and obtain a greater understanding.
The book consists of 5 main chapters.
1)The History of English
2)Origins and Development of Literature
3)English Literature
4)American Literature
5)Thai Literature
The writer is confident that the book with its special features will benefit students as well as general readers.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Nares Surasith
BA (English), MA (English)
PhD (English-Comparative Literature)Introduction to Literature
Presenting
-The History of English
-The Historical and Literary Backgrounds of Literature
-Prepare you for Further Studies in literature
The writer composed, in fact summarized, this book when he was a PhD student, English Literature, for teaching at Buddhist University, Bangkok at that time. The content consists of many important items that the beginner of literature learning should know such as background of literature, types of literature, drama, novel, poem, etc. including some well-known poets. Moreover, in this book, the periods of literature were classified and explained accordingly.
I believe that this book will summarize the important issues on literature that the literary learners have to know when studying literature, especially English literature.
Sincerely,
หนังสือเล่มนี้เขียนโดย ผศ ดร นเรศ สุรสิทธิ์
-จบการศึกษา ป.ตรี-โท-เอก สาขาวิชาภาษาอังกฤษ
-สอนวิชาอังกฤษในมหาวิทยาลัยกว่า 10 แห่ง ยาวนานกว่า 30 ปี
-ผู้เขียนหนังสืออังกฤษขายดีกว่า 65 เล่ม