This clear and engaging book offers readers an introduction to European Literary History from antiquity through to the present day. Offering a view of Europe as an evolving cultural space and examining the mobility and travel of literature both within and out of Europe this guide offers an introduction to the dynamics of major literary genres, international literary networks, publication cultures and debates, and the cultural history of 'Europe' as a region as well as a concept.

General introduction; Part I Antiquity; Chapter 1. Introduction; Chapter 2. Travelling in Greek and Roman literature; Chapter 3. Experiencing life and love; Chapter 4. Performing culture; Chapter 5. Making literature; Chapter 6. Remembering the past; Part II Middle Ages; Chapter 7. Introduction; Chapter 8. Desiring; Chapter 9 Searching for the Grail; Chapter 10 Reaching salvation; Chapter 11. Telling tales; Chapter 12 Self-fashioning; Part III Early modern period; Chapter 13 Introduction; Chapter 14 Staging; Chapter 15 Reading; Chapter 16 Exploring new worlds; Chapter 17 Corresponding; Chapter 18 Educating; Part IV. The long nineteenth century; Chapter 19 Introduction; Chapter 20 Feeling; Chapter 21 Defining the nation; Chapter 22 Circulating traditions; Chapter 23 Selling literature; Chapter 24 Emancipating; Part V. The modern era; Chapter 25 Introduction; Chapter 26 Breaking boundaries; Chapter 27 Ordering chaos; Chapter 28 Marketing literature; Chapter 29 Writing the city; Chapter 30 CHanging Europe; Bibliography; Index of terms; Index of authors and works