About the book: 2015 / Two volumes of “Essays on the History of English Poetry” cover almost five centuries, offering the reader a whole gallery of English poets and their creative destinies. The first volume is almost entirely devoted to the poets of the Renaissance, and not only to such important figures as Philip Sidney, Shakespeare and Donne, but also, for example, John Skelton, George Gascoigne, Thomas Campion, and others about whom we know extremely little. The book contains many original interpretations and findings. Scientific accuracy of assessments and facts is combined with fascinating presentation. The reader faces the amazing era of King Henry VIII and the great Elizabeth - a time that is called the “golden age” of English literature. The author traces the development of the English Renaissance from its origins to the peak achievements of Shakespeare's period. A separate section dedicated to Shakespeare is based on the author’s experience of translating the poem “Venus and Adonis” and the plays “King Lear” and “The Tempest”. Similarly, other essays included in the book, such as those on John Donne, grew out of the author's translation practice. Stories about poets are illustrated with translations of their most characteristic poems and excerpts from poems.