English literature is not what it was. Of course if never was a fixed entity but the last 20-30 years have witnessed wholesale change not only in approaches to the subject but also to its very boundaries. That there is literature in English worth reading that is not English literature seems blindingly obvious but only comparatively recently has the syllabus come to recognize it. Indeed, more broadly the traditional canon of 'great' literature has been supplemented in ways that have eroded the notion of a canon altogether. Concurrently, the arrival of Theory has consigned to oblivion the innocent 'objectivity' of literary criticism.

So what is English? Peter Barry's book examines the practice of studying English, and the theory underlying that practice. He indicates how almost everything but the name of the discipline has changed during its short lifetime. He explores the core activities involved in 'doing' English today, and looks at as well as beyond the close reading of texts. He guides the reader through some of the most contested issues in the subject and surveys areas that have newly come under the banner of 'English'.