Portrait of Geoffrey Chaucer, known as the Father of English literature. [Photos from wikipedia]

When talking about British literature, the first thought that comes to mind may be a verse from Percy Bysshe Shelley 's poetry "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?"

British literature, with its charm and rich connotations, has attracted many readers around the world. President Xi Jinping mentioned several British writers like Geoffrey Chaucer, John Keats, Charles Dickens, George Bernard Shaw, Francis Bacon and George Gordon, Lord Byron, during a cultural symposium on the arts in 2014. During his recent state visit to the UK, he also quoted British writers in his speech, which evokes memories of classic British literature.

Let's review some of the most classic British literature.