History of teaching english through literature???

Hello everyone.

I'm writing a work about "the role of literature in teaching English". I have a problem. I can't find anything about the history of teaching english through literature. I mean what are the beginnings of such methods,were there any problems with them, how did they develop through years etc.
Could someone recommend me some links or books about it?
I would be very grateful.
Thank you
Bye

It goes way back - children in England and Scotland were taught to read using the Bible until the end of the 18th century.

You could try some of these links, but I suspect what you want will only be available in print.

BBC | British Council teaching English - Literature - Children's literature
Brown - Using Children's Literature with Young Learners (I-TESL-J)
Teaching English - Elements of an English Program
British Library Direct: Order Details

Thank you for your answer.
All of this will be very good

Although certainly peripheral, try the first chapter of Terry Eagleton's 'Literary Theory: an Introduction.' It's about the teaching of English (literature) as an ideological instrument.