An Invitation to Old English and Anglo-Saxon England

by Bruce Mitchell

In the six centuries before the Norman Conquest, the Anglo-Saxons set their mark on England: the origins of much that is distinctive in modern English culture may be found in the period, most notably the English language itself. This outstanding book is an introduction to Old English language and literature set within the context of Anglo-Saxon history and society -so arranged that the one constantly illuminates the other. Parts I, II, and V aim to provide the reader with an understanding of, and in particular the ability to read, Old English. Drawing on over four decades of teaching experience, the author proceeds in clear, manageable steps. He stresses the 'Englishness' of Old English, guides the reader through possible difficulties, and illustrates each point with examples. Part III presents a wide-ranging account of Anglo-Saxon England. A description of the literature is followed by a brief history of the period, made vivid through a series of extracts from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The author draws on the latest archaeological and historical research to describe arts, crafts, and occupations, from weapons, coins, textiles, and jewellery to ship-building, architecture, and sculpture. In his account of town and country life, of warriors, farmers, and entertainers, Bruce Mitchell shows the impact of Christianity on a heroic society, in which both men and women played important roles. This impact created a tension that is frequently apparent in a representative selection of fifty-one prose and verse texts provided in Part IV. Each of the texts is introduced and placed in context, and footnote annotations explain points of difficulty. The book is illustrated with maps, line drawings, and photographs. It has a guide to further reading and full indexes, and concludes with a glossary tailored to meet the needs of those encountering Old English for the first time. The author's aim is to allow the reader both to understand Anglo-Saxon society and to experience the richness of its literature and culture. He will be found to have succeeded.

Genres: History, Anglo Saxon, Reference, Nonfiction, Linguistics, Literature, Old English Literature

444 pages, Paperback

First published December 5, 1995

Reviews

[A.L.]

Great as a companion to A Guide to Old English, for all the little extras it offers - like an account of a nun almost eating the devil with some lettuce

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the idea behind this textbook. Bruce Mitchell, the foremost pedagogue of Old English, has written some very serious textbooks that push students very hard and assume a familiarity with Latin and Greek and access to a university library full of other resources. But with AN INVITATION TO OLD ENGLISH & ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND, Mitchell offers a book that can serve as a taste of Old English to people who aren't ready to fully commit themselves to study, and which is packed with interesting historical detail. Mitchell first gives some differences between Old English and Modern English. He then gives a very basic sketch of case endings and verbs. This forms a bare minimum so that he can give little selections of Old English texts (with generous glossing) which the student can manage to read through, using what they know from Modern English and the glossary at the back of the book. It's fun to feel like you know something of a language even when you don't have much of a clue about grammatical paradigms. Throughout the book, Mitchell alternates readings with commentary that gives a general picture of life in early medieval England, with much interesting archaeological data. All genres are represented, from history to epic poetry.

My only criticism of the book is that it is too big. Readers who would like just a small trial introduction to Old English should get something small and much less expensive than a general textbook to the language.

[alonso ruvalcaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesantísimo y extrañamente divertido. un lugar muy alto para un libro "de texto".