With the increased importance of Pre-20th Century Literature to GCSE study, this anthology introduces texts that will allow students to examine the language and styles of writers from different centuries and cultures. Through play extracts, diaries, stories, poetry, and letters, students will gain valuable experience of reading authors as diverse as Goldsmith, Jonson, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Dickens, Edith Wharton, and Guy de Maupassant. Oxford Literature Resources are designed to meet the wider reading needs of students at GCSE and Standard Grade Level. Familiarity with a wide range of literature is an important feature of the National Curriculum reading attainment target. Each collection in this series encourages students to explore the notion of genre by focusing on particular types of writing. The activities section provides opportunities for discussion on the issues raised in the anthology and suggestions for written assignments and coursework.