It is no longer possible to read English literature without engaging with the way in which imperial and colonial contact profoundly shaped its major works. From the plays of Shakespeare to some of the most vital works being produced now, literature in English has explored the human relations, emotions, and politics of empire. We will read a variety of the most compelling works produced on different sides of the imperial divide, written by men and well as women, in order to see the way in which the imperial theme shaped their form as well as their meditations on the human condition. Finally, we will also consider the relationship between empire and globalization.