Great Authors of the British Isles

This eight-part series presents a survey of Britain's literary history through thumbnail sketches of authors ranging from the unknown composer of Beowulf through 20th-century poets, playwrights, and novelists. Hosted by actor Jonathan Cake, each of the half-hour segments incorporates a number of short profiles of writers, backed with illustrative artwork and photos (as well as some clips from film adaptations or excerpts from recordings of the authors reading from their work). With a few longer exceptions—Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen—most of the individual entries run four to five minutes and are arranged chronologically within literary categories. Some programs are also oriented to specific genres, such as one devoted to children's literature, which naturally ends with an encomium to the Harry Potter books, or another on innovators in various types of popular fiction (horror, science fiction, detective stories, and spy thrillers). Great Authors of the British Isles offers a taste of the variety and richness of English literature, serving up a primer for students, while also encouraging general readers to sample the writing of some of its illustrious subjects. DVD extras include an educator's guide, timeline, and reading list. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)