Being the origin of the English language, England has yielded many noteworthy literary works and authors.

While each of these is unique, they represent Englands literature as a cohesive body. Over the ages, different styles and approaches to literature have become evident. The oldest surviving texts are written in Old English and are from the early part of the Middle Ages. Before these, literary works were in the form of oral tales that were passed down from one generation to the next. These works were usually written in poetic prose that could be performed, instead of merely being recited. These were fluid and dynamic, changing with each performance. The Anglo-Saxons brought Germanic poetry and performances with them when they inhabited England. Thus, even the essentially English literature of the time became influenced, often adapting Germanic poems and tales. The Anglo-Saxons made extensive use of alliteration (beginning each or most words in a sentence with the same letter; e.g. fight the fine fight of the faith) as well as rhyme to assist them to remember the pieces. The 18th century was dubbed the Age of Enlightenment as literature reflected the societys tendency to rely on science, politics, religion and economy for guidance, rather than on gods, fate and chance. Literature attacked socially accepted norms, forcing people to question their beliefs. There was also a greater emphasis on acting upon instincts rather than always exercising self-control and restraint. With this new attitude, the literary world and its authors reflected back on the medieval productions with a renewed sympathy for the lack of emotions displayed. This led to the remaking of several ballads and folk tales. Several styles followed over the course of the next few decades. These include Romanticism, Victorianism and Modernism. All of these played their important role in the creation of English literary history. Modernism is particularly interesting as it presented a different perspective; one that moved away from everything being certain and objective (typical of Victorian literature). Sigmund Freuds psychoanalytic theories of the subconscious wove their academic thread through much of the authors productions. Sir Winston Churchill Sir Winston Churchill Winston Churchill was a politician, a soldier, an artist, and the 20th century's most famous and celebrated Prime Minister. Isambard Kingdom Brunel Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an extraordinary Victorian engineer. He designed and built amongst other structures bridges, ships, railways and viaducts Diana, Princess of Wales From the time of her marriage to the Prince of Wales in 1981 until her death in a car accident in Paris in 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales was one of the world's most high-profile, most photographed, and most iconic celebrities. Charles Darwin Charles Darwin was a British naturalist of the nineteenth century. He and others developed the theory of evolution. This theory forms the basis for the modern life sciences. Darwin's most famous books are 'The Origin of Species' and 'The Descent of Man'. ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare William Shakespeare was a playwright and poet whose body of works is considered the greatest in English literature. He wrote dozens of plays which continue to dominate world theater 400 years later. Sir Isaac Newton Isaac Newton was a mathematician and scientist who invented differential calculus and formulated the theory of universal gravitation, a theory about the nature of light, and three laws of motion. Queen Elizabeth IQueen Elizabeth I The daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth 1 reigned England from 15581603. Her reign was marked by several plots to overthrow her, the execution of Mary Queen of Scots (1587), the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588), and domestic prosperity and literary achievement. Find out more about Elizabeth 1 John Lennon John Lennon was a musician and composer who was a member of the Beatles, the biggest rock band of the 1960s. Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson Nelson is the greatest hero in British naval history, an honour he earned by defeating Napoleon's fleet in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell was a military, political, and religious figure who led the Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War (16421649) and called for the execution of Charles I. He was Lord Protector of England for much of the 1650s, ruling in place of the country's traditional monarchy. Ernest Shackleton

Ernest Shackleton was a British explorer of the South Pole who is best remembered for leading his crew to safety after the failed expedition of the Endurance (1914-16). Captain James Cook James Cook was an explorer of the eighteenth century, known for his voyages to the Pacific Ocean. Cook visited New Zealand, established the first European colony in Australia, and was the first European to visit Hawaii. He also approached Antarctica and explored much of the western coast of North America. Baden-PowellRobert Baden-Powell British soldier who founded the Boy Scouts (1908) and with his sister Agnes (18581945) the Girl Guides (1910). King Alfred the Great King of the West Saxons (871899), scholar, and lawmaker who repelled the Danes and helped consolidate England into a unified kingdom. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington British general and politician. Commander of British troops during the Peninsular War (18081814), he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815), thus ending the Napoleonic Wars. As prime minister (1828 1830) he passed the Catholic Emancipation Act (1829). Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher Margaret Thatcher was the United Kingdom's first woman prime minister, and she held the office of PM for longer than anyone in the 20th century. Michael Crawford -Actor Queen Victoria Victoria's nearly 64-year reign was the longest in British history. Find out more about Victoria Sir Paul McCartney McCartney was a singer, songwriter and guitarist for The Beatles, the biggest rock band of the 1960s. Sir Alexander Fleming British bacteriologist who discovered penicillin in 1928, for which he shared a Nobel Prize in 1945. Alan Turing English mathematician whose works explored the possibility of computers and raised fundamental questions about artificial intelligence. During World War II he contributed to the allied victory by helping to decipher the German Enigma codes. Michael Faraday British physicist and chemist who discovered electromagnetic induction (1831) and proposed the field theory later developed by Maxwell and Einstein. Owain Glyndwr The last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales. QueenQueen Elizabeth II Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary), is the Queen regnant and Head of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and fifteen other Commonwealth countries. Professor Stephen Hawking British theoretical physicist noted for his research into the origin of the universe. His work influenced the development of the big bang and black hole theories. William Tyndale English religious reformer and martyr whose translation of the New Testament was the basis of the King James Bible. Emmeline Pankhurst William Wilberforce British politician. As a member of Parliament (17801825) he campaigned for the British abolition of slavery. David Bowie David Bowie, is a British rock and roll musician, actor, and artist who has had a profound influence on rock and roll from the 1960s to the present. Guy Fawkes English conspirator who was executed for his role in a plot to blow up King James I and the Houses of Parliament (1570-1606) Find out more Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire of Woodall Eric Morecambe - comic BeckhamDavid Beckham Beckham is a leading English footballer and a former star of the legendary team Manchester United. Thomas Paine British-born American writer and Revolutionary leader who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense (1776) arguing for American independence from Britain. In England he published The Rights of Man (1791 1792), a defence of the French Revolution.

Boudicca Queen of ancient Britain who led a temporarily successful revolt against the Roman army that had claimed her deceased husband's kingdom. Sir Steve Redgrave A British rower who won a gold medal at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000, as well as an additional bronze medal in 1988. As the only Briton ever to achieve this feat, he is widely considered to be Britain's greatest Olympian. Sir Thomas More English politician, humanist scholar, and writer who refused to comply with the Act of Supremacy, by which English subjects were enjoined to recognize Henry VIII's authority over the pope, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London and beheaded for treason. William Blake British poet and artist whose paintings and poetic works, such as Songs of Innocence (1789) and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (c. 1790), have a mystical, visionary quality. John Harrison An English clock designer, who developed and built the world's first successful maritime clock, one whose accuracy was great enough to allow the determination of longitude over long distances. King Henry VIII Henry VIII is one of the most famous and controversial kings of England. His divorce from Catherine of Aragon, his first wife, compelled him to break from the Catholic Church by the Act of Supremacy (1534). Charles Dickens - writer Charles Dickens wrote some of the most popular and widely read novels of the 19th century, from Oliver Twist to A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations. Sir Frank Whittle English aeronautical engineer. Whittle was one of the first men to associate the gas turbine with jet propulsion. John Peel John Peel was a disc jockey on BBC's Radio 1 whose 37 years of broadcasting out-of-the-mainstream acts helped popularise reggae, punk and hip-hop in Britain. John Logie Baird A Scottish inventor, who in 1926 gave the first demonstration of true television Aneurin Bevan Welsh-born British politician who as minister of health (19451951) was the chief architect of the National Health Service. Boy George - singer Sir Douglas Bader Sir William Wallace Scottish patriot who led resistance against the English and briefly gained control of Scotland in 1298. Sir Francis Drake English naval hero and explorer who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world (15771580) and was vice admiral of the fleet that destroyed the Spanish Armada (1588). John Wesley British religious leader who founded Methodism (1738). His brother Charles (17071788) wrote thousands of hymns, including Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. King Arthur A legendary British hero, said to have been king of the Britons in the sixth century A.D. and to have held court at Camelot. Florence Nightingale British nurse who organized (1854) and directed a unit of field nurses during the Crimean War and is considered the founder of modern nursing. (Although Florence was born in Italy, her parents were British and from the age of one, Florence lived in Britain). T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) Welsh-born British soldier, adventurer, and writer who led the Arab revolt against the Turks (1916 1918) and later wrote an account of his adventures, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926). Sir Robert Falcon Scott British explorer who reached the South Pole (January 1912) only to find that Roald Amundsen had discovered the spot one month before. Enoch Powell Sir Cliff Richard One of the UK's most popular singers of all time Sir Alexander Graham Bell Scottish-born American inventor of the telephone. Freddie Mercury Dame Julie Andrews

A British actress, singer, and author, best known for her starring roles in the musical films Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965).