1578 in literature
This article presents lists of the literary events and publications in 1578.
Events
- December – Publication of John Lyly's didactic prose romance Euphues: the Anatomy of Wyt, originating the ornate English prose style known as Euphuism.
- unknown date – Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga is sent on a mission to Zaragoza by King Philip II of Spain.
New books
Prose
- Diogo de Payva de Andrada – Defensio Tridentinæ fidei
- George Best – A True Discourse of the Late Voyages of Discoverie...under the Conduct of Martin Frobisher
- John Florio – First Fruits
- Jaroš Griemiller – Rosarium philosophorum
- Gabriel Harvey – Smithus, vel Musarum lachrymae
- John Lyly – Euphues: the Anatomy of Wit
- Margaret Tyler, ''The Mirrour of Princely Deedes and Knighthood''
Drama
- Jan Kochanowski – Odprawa posłów greckich
- George Whetstone – ''Promos and Cassandra''
Poetry
- ''See 1578 in poetry''
Births
- April 2 – Francesco Amico, Italian theologian
- June – Mary Fitton, possible inspiration for Shakespeare's The Dark Lady
- August 24 – John Taylor, English poet and waterman
- unknown dates
- *Giambattista Andreini, Italian dramatist and actor
- *Jacob Bidermann, German dramatist
- *George Hakewill, English author and cleric
Deaths
- May 4 – Martin Eisengrein, German theologian and polemicist
- July 27 – Jane Lumley, English translator from Greek and Latin
- August 11 – Pedro Nunes, Portuguese polymath
- October 12 – Cornelius Gemma, Dutch physician, astronomer and astrologer
- unknown date – Gabriele Giolito de' Ferrari, Italian printer
- probable – Johann Stumpf, Swiss writer on history and topography