This book is a thoroughly revised and enlarged version of An Outline History of English Literature, the second edition of which appeared in 2002. It provides a survey of English literature from Old English to the present day. The material covers major literary epochs, and each chapter is provided with a general introduction to the most important literary movements of the period followed by a more detailed examination of given authors and their works. At the end of each chapter the reader finds suggestions for further reading. This book offers a readable account of the history of English literature in English for Polish students. The emphasis has been placed on factural rather than analytical data, and therefore it is hoped that it can be of interest both to students of English and the general reader who needs a reference to particular literary periods and trends.