John Sutherland - A Little History of Literature

This is a good book for the perpetual undergraduate like me for it's a brief survey of the history of English literature.  As Emerson would say, take what you need and disregard the rest.  On the other hand, the book freshly reveals my many deficiencies in the world of English literature.

There is a chapter on magical realism.  This is a genre I have never understood.

I am weak on Shakespeare.  I am weak on epic poetry.  I am weak on "Beouwolf."  I am weak on so many literary areas.

I had an English professsor at Auburn who loved John Donne.  The metaphysical poets are not my favorites.

I need to read more Dickens.  I need to read more Woolf.