Presented in large color reproductions, the manuscripts offer fascinating insights into the world of the writer at work and often reveal major corrections made in the course of writing. Chris Fletcher's engaging text provides an overview of each author's life, writings, and times and explains the significance of the manuscripts and their importance to understanding the works. From the grandest of narratives to the slightest of couplets, the manuscripts represented here provide a vibrant and immediate view of English literary history.