Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe (1993) by Merry E. Weisner explores the lives of women between 1500 and 1750. The author examines women's roles in connection to broader historical changes and the impact of these changes on their lives. Her research delves into the personal and domestic experiences of women. This includes not only their physical experiences, such as menstruation, pregnancy, and motherhood, but also how women sought to create meaningful lives from these experiences. The book also contrasts female gender roles with those imposed on men, offering intriguing insights and observations.

Oliver Cromwell and the English Revolution (1990), edited by John Morrill, explores both the personal and political life of Oliver Cromwell. Despite his death at the beginning of the neoclassical era, he remains one of the most well-known and controversial figures in English history, influencing political discourse well into that period. Cromwell is celebrated for championing religious and civil liberties and for his part in overcoming Stuart tyranny. The book outlines his career phases as a citizen, soldier, and lord protector.

The Rise of the Novel: Studies in Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding (1938) by Ian Watt, reprinted in 2001, examines the connection between the expanding reading public and the emergence of the English novel in the eighteenth century. Watt analyzes the works of Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding, among other notable novelists, to highlight what set the English novel apart from other literary forms of the time. This work is considered a classic depiction of the social conditions, evolving attitudes, and literary practices that dominated the era when the novel became a leading literary form. Watt also explores the novel's audience, its role in the book trade, and the transformation of English society during the eighteenth century.

The Literary Life and Other Curiosities (1981) by Robert Hendrickson is a delightful collection of anecdotes, quotes, lists, and poems about books and their authors, including many from the neoclassical period. It is both humorously engaging and historically insightful, providing unique perspectives on writers like Dryden and Swift. In the chapter titled “Wits, Wags, and Literary Weasels,” Hendrickson investigates the use of wit, puns, and hoaxes among writers, offering entertaining stories and examples.