A Short History of Early Modern England presents the historical and cultural information necessary for a richer understanding of English Renaissance literature. * Written in a clear and accessible style for an undergraduate level audience * Gives an overview of the period's history as well as an understanding of the historiographic issues * Explores key historical and literary events, from the Wars of the Roses to the publication of John Milton's Paradise Regained * Features in depth explanations of key terms and concepts, such as absolutism and the Elizabethan Settlement