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.
• Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga is sent on a mission to Zaragoza by King Philip II of Spain.

New books

• Diogo de Paiva de Andrada - Defensio Tridentinae Fidei (posthumously published)
• George Best - A True Discourse of the Late Voyages of Discoverie…under the Conduct of Martin Frobisher
• Doddananka - Chandraprabha Purana
• 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

New drama

• Jan Kochanowski - Odprawa posłów greckich ("The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys")
• Thomas Lupton - All for Money published
• 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 (died 1647)
• Unknown dates
  • Giambattista Andreini, Italian dramatist and actor (died 1650)
  • Jacob Bidermann, German dramatist (died 1627)
  • George Hakewill, English author and cleric (died 1649)

Deaths

• May 4 – Martin Eisengrein, German theologian and polemicist (born 1535)
• July 27 – Jane Lumley, English translator from Greek and Latin (born 1537)
• August 11 – Pedro Nunes, Portuguese polymath (born 1502)
• October 12 – Cornelius Gemma, Dutch physician, astronomer and astrologer (born 1535)
• Unknown date – Gabriele Giolito de' Ferrari, Italian printer (born c. 1508)
• Probable year of birth – Johann Stumpf, Swiss writer on history and topography (born 1500)