Originally published in 1960, this volume contains five lectures on seventeenth-century prose given by the author during the 1950s. The lectures, which are printed in full, have the following titles: 'A Survey'; 'Robert Burton'; 'Biography'; 'Sir Thomas Browne'; 'The Sermon'. An index of names and a detailed notes section are also provided. Concise and highly readable, this book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Early Modern literature and the development of English prose.