"Lives of the English Poets : Prior, Congreve, Blackmore, Pope" by Samuel Johnson contains short biographies and critical appraisals of 52 poets, most of whom lived during the eighteenth century. These were arranged, approximately, by the date of death. Abraham Cowley, Sir John Denham, John Milton, Samuel Butler, John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, Wentworth Dillon, Earl of Roscommon, Thomas Otway, Edmund Waller, and John Pomfret are just some of the honored poets.

Some of the most important authors in British poetry left their mark onliterature before 1600, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spenser, and, of course, William Shakespeare. "The Facts On File Companion to British Poetry before 1600"is an encyclopedic guide to British poetry from the beginnings to theyear 1600, featuring approximately 600 entries ranging in length from300 to 2,500 words.