This two-volume anthology celebrates four centuries of English poetry, from the Elizabethan era to the present day. This, the first of the two volumes, includes Spenser, Sydney, Shakespeare, Donne, Milton, Dryden, Swift, Pope, and many others, together with a generous selection from less well-known writers. The richness and variety of this tradition are represented in this collection by all the great and familiar names, but also some of the less well-known poets who have often provided startling exceptions to the poetry of their age. The result is a rich and multi-coloured tapestry of the depth, diversity, and energy of poetry written in Britain and Ireland.