In his introduction to the English novel, Eagleton (cultural theory, U. of Manchester) leads his students on a march through Britain's canonical writers, beginning with Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swift and ending with Virginia Wolf. As he did in his popular introduction to literary theory, Eagleton summarizes the arguments of prominent theorists succinctly and cogently. He explains his choice of authors by stating that they are the novelists students will most likely encounter, but in his conclusion, Eagleton contends that England's era of major literary achievement ended after the First World War along with the collapse of major liberal ideals, such as reason, progress and civility. He sees in their place a narrowing of interest among authors to the individual and parochial. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)