Yes, this book is dry. Very dry. However, it is an excellent description of how the Great Chain of Being works, and how it underpins the Elizabethan way of looking at the world, with particular reference to the works of Shakespeare, Sidney and Milton.

This is great book for showing the gulf between the way the Elizabethans viewed the world and the way we do. Not just for academics. ( )

An indispensable work for the student of history or literature of this period. ( )

Don't be fooled by its skinny appearance: this book is packed with great insight. How Tillyard manages to put so many facts in such a small space, all while keeping it beautifully readable, I shall never know. No single book has offered me such a vivid glimpse into Shakespeare's world.