Despite its fame, many students misuse this book. Reading it cover-to-cover like a novel is impossible (and undesirable). Here is the optimal strategy:
Read chapter introductions for each age: history of english literature by t singh
While obscure to a casual reader, serious students love the exhaustive alphabetical index at the back. Need to find where "Mrs. Dalloway" is mentioned? Flip to the index. Singh ensured that his book functions as a reference dictionary as well. Despite its fame, many students misuse this book
The Age of Chaucer