William Harrison

Born in London in 1534, William Harrison was an English clergyman and writer educated at St Paul's School, Westminster, and later Christ Church, Oxford. He spent much of his career in the Church, but he is remembered above all for his curiosity about the country around him and his gift for turning observation into readable prose.

Harrison's most famous work, Description of England, appeared as part of Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles in 1577 and again in 1587. In it, he described everything from social classes and food to towns, customs, and daily life, creating one of the most valuable portraits of Elizabethan England.

Because of that work, Harrison is often seen as more than a churchman: he was also a careful observer of his age, with interests in history, chronology, and topography. His writing remains especially appealing to readers who want a direct, human glimpse into the world of Shakespeare's England.