The earliest books in the English language were written in Old English. These include long epic poems, such as "Beowulf." Students often read the modern translation by 1995 Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney. The dramatic tension in "Beowulf" continues to capture our imagination; the poem was made into an action movie in 2007.
Popular 14th century literature books written in Middle English include "Canterbury Tales," by Geoffrey Chaucer, and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," by an unknown author. "Canterbury Tales" is a collection of mildly cynical stories told by fellow travelers while on pilgrimage to Canterbury. "Sir Gawain" is one of the early Arthur legends. Like "Beowulf," it has been made into movies.
The plays of Renaissance playwright William Shakespeare had a profound effect on the English language. Many popular sayings, such as "All's well that ends well," can be traced to a Shakespearean play. His histories, comedies and tragedies continue to grace our modern stages. Whether it's "Romeo and Juliet," "Julius Caesar," "Henry IV" or "A Midsummer's Night Dream," books of Shakespeare's plays can be found in most bookstores, along with his sonnets.
England's middle class expanded in the 19th century, and the demand for popular novels increased. The popular novel as we know it today can be traced to the great 19th century works of Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, George Elliot and Thomas Hardy, including "A Christmas Carol," "Jane Eyre," "Little Dorrit" and "Jude the Obscure," respectively. These works remain widely read and are often made into movies.
Modern classics in English literature include "The Hobbit," by J.R.R. Tolkien, "Animal Farm," by George Orwell, "Alice in Wonderland" by C.S. Lewis, and many others. These modern works often fall into subcategories of fantasy, science fiction and mystery. Contemporary works by Agatha Christie, including "Murder on the Orient Express," and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series remain wildly popular and have been translated into many languages.