Publisher's Synopsis
Spanning almost seven centuries, this anthology of literary texts ranges from the earliest writings in English up to the time of Chaucer. It encapsulates the foundation and consolidation of literature written in English, culminating in some of the finest works produced in the high Middle Ages. For the second edition, the anthology has been extended to include newly edited versions of key late medieval texts, particularly ′Sir Gawain and the Green Knight′, substantial extracts from ′Piers Plowman′, and selections from the works of Chaucer. The texts are arranged by date of manuscript, foregrounding issues of dating, textual transmission, authorship and audience. Full translations are offered for all the Old and earlier Middle English material, along with marginal glosses for the later texts, making them accessible to those who are not language specialists. A general introduction gives an outline of the key works and the historical context in which they were written.
