English literature

The term English literature refers to literature written in the English language, or literature composed in English by writers who are not necessarily from England; Joseph Conrad was Polish, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Edgar Allan Poe was American, Salman Rushdie is Indian. In academia, the term often labels departments and programs practicing English studies. This new label was necessary not only because all of England's former colonies have developed literatures of their own, but also because each speak their variety of English. In other words English literature is as diverse as the Englishes that are spoken around the world.

See also

• British literature
• Anglo-Welsh literature
• Scottish literature
• Irish literature
• Australian literature
• New Zealand literature
• Pakistani literature
• Canadian literature
• Literature of the United States
• South African literature
• Early English Jewish literature
• Postcolonial literature
• Indian writing in English
• List of English language poets