British literature refers to literature associated with the United Kingdom,
Isle of Man and
Channel Islands. This includes literatures from England,
Northern Ireland,
Scotland and
Wales. By far the largest part of British literature has been written in the English language, with
English literature developing into a global phenomenon, because of its use in the former colonies of Britain. In addition the story of British literature involves writings in
Anglo-Norman,
Anglo-Saxon,
Cornish,
Guernésiais,
Jèrriais,
Latin,
Manx,
Scots,
Scottish Gaelic,
Welsh and other languages. Literature in
Northern Ireland includes writings in English,
Irish and
Ulster Scots. Irish writers have played an important part in the development of literature in England and
Scotland, but though the whole of Ireland was politically part of the
United Kingdom between January 1801 and December 1922, it is controversial to describe
Irish literature as British. For some this includes works by authors from
Northern Ireland.