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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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The Faerie Queene
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(1590–6) Epic poem by Edmund *Spenser combining moral allegory with praise of England and of *Elizabeth I. The six books that appeared (three in 1590, three in 1596) were part of a longer projected work, to be built around a courtly framework of 12 adventures on behalf of the queen by 12 of her knights. The verse is in what became known as the Spenserian stanza (8 lines of 10 syllables followed by one of 12 syllables, rhyming ababbcbcc). This verse form was often later revived, as for example by Byron for *Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.
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