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Britannia’s Pastorals
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Britannia’s Pastorals

work by Browne
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William Browne's Britannia's Pastorals (1613-16) is a lengthy pastoral narrative poem. Modeled on the work of Edmund Spenser, Browne's work is characterized by its discursive style and interspersed songs. The poem expresses devotion to England, particularly Devonshire, aiming to glorify these regions through pastoral verse of epic dignity.1

Pastoral literature, in general, presents shepherds as living free from urban complexity and corruption. While often idealized, this genre has been used by many notable poets, including Spenser, to explore themes of love and death, and sometimes to allude to contemporary issues within a rustic setting.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. William Browne
  2. pastoral literature

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