A superficial guide to the culture of the period, aimed, as the title says, at novelists. Note also in the title: "Renaissance England" and "1485-1649." This very broad interpretation of "Renaissance" can lead to some major misunderstandings. There are many errors; many statements are made without date qualification, giving the impression that they are true for the whole of the period covered by the book. It does give bibliographies for each chapter. ( )