About the Book:This timely book traces ideas of pacifism through English literature, particularly poetry. Four wide-ranging chapters, drawing on both religious and secular texts, provide intellectual and historical contexts. There follows a chronological analysis of poetry which rejects war and celebrates peace, from the middle ages to the present day. The book provides inspiration for all readers who seriously believe that conflict and war do not solve problems, and for students it provides a new kind of thematic history of literature.