Designed primarily for GCSE and A Level students, "York Notes" also provide background information for first-year undergraduates. Covering major works from medieval to modern English literature, and classic and contemporary works from Europe, America, the Commonwealth and the Third World, each title in the series is written by a specialist. The guides feature a biography of the author in question; the literary and historical background to the work; a summary of the text and glossary; hints for study to help students plan work and study effectively; a specimen essay; and suggestions for further reading.