Though British history and identity in the early modern period are intensively researched areas, to date, the role of literature in the construction of 'Britishness' is under-examined. In the past, English history of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries often overlooked the contribution of Ireland, Scotland and Wales to the formation of the British state. Historians now describe 'Britain' as a multiple kingdom, with a long history of conflict. In this volume, a team of leading Renaissance literary critics read a broad range of texts from the period, including plays of Shakespeare, in light of the new British history. Prominent historians respond to the issues raised by the volume. This collection opens up a new kind of literary history and has pressing relevance for discussions of 'Britishness' today.