English literature first came into its own during the Middle Ages, with works such as Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" (written in Middle English) and William Langland's "Piers Plowman."
The Renaissance saw the rise of English theatrical drama, most notably William Shakespeare but also from authors such as Christopher Marlowe.
English Romantic poets such as Percy Shelley and William Blake arose at the beginning of the 19th century. Their work emphasized the epic nature of man and the wonders of the natural world.
Novels had been around since the 18th century but that attained new prominence during the Victorian era with authors such as Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters.
The English literary tradition continued into the 20th century and beyond, with authors such as George Orwell and Graham Greene commenting on socio-political issues of the time.