John Lyly: Euphues. The Anatomy of Wit

Though from a twenty-first century perspective John Lyly's Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit and its sequel, Euphues and His England may appear lacking in narrative interest, and difficult of access, in their own day the two works created a literary sensation, transforming their author from an obscure Oxford graduate in search of preferment into one of the most prominent and influential writers of the age. Following their first publication in 1578 and 1580 respectively, the two parts ran through over twenty editions before the turn of the century, and continued to appear on the bookstalls for the next thirty years. In large measure their extraordinary impact may be attributed to the distinctive style in which they are written, an