The Cambridge History of Early Medieval English Literature

This History presents an up-to-date, diverse and comprehensive account of writing in the early medieval period in the British Isles.

Clare A. Lees (Edited by)

9781316608845, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 March 2016

765 pages, 16 b/w illus. 1 map
22.8 x 15.2 x 3.4 cm, 1.27 kg

'The intention of The New Cambridge History of English Literature [series] is to offer 'a broad synthesis and contextual survey of the history of English literature' that couples 'fresh perspectives' and 'essential exposition' in an 'accessible narrative'. This volume succeeds admirably in combining those goals … [It] offers a vision of an exciting and expansive literary culture of endless interpenetration, interlingual inventiveness, and ideological appropriation.' E. J. Christie, Speculum

Informed by multicultural, multidisciplinary perspectives, The Cambridge History of Early Medieval English Literature offers a new exploration of the earliest writing in Britain and Ireland, from the end of the Roman Empire to the mid-twelfth century. Beginning with an account of writing itself, as well as of scripts and manuscript art, subsequent chapters examine the earliest texts from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and the tremendous breadth of Anglo-Latin literature. Chapters on English learning and literature in the ninth century and the later formation of English poetry and prose also convey the profound cultural confidence of the period. Providing a discussion of essential texts, including Beowulf and the writings of Bede, this History captures the sheer inventiveness and vitality of early medieval literary culture through topics as diverse as the literature of English law, liturgical and devotional writing, the workings of science and the history of women's writing.

Introduction: literature in Britain and Ireland, 500–1150 Clare A. Lees
Part I. Word, Script and Image: 1. Writing in Britain and Ireland, 400–800 Julia M. H. Smith
2. The art of writing: scripts and scribal production Julia Crick
3. Art and writing: voice, image, object Catherine E. Karkov
4. Of Bede's 'Five Languages and Four Nations': the earliest writing from Ireland, Scotland and Wales Máire Ní Mhaonaigh
5. Insular Latin literature to 900 Rosalind Love
6. Bede and the northern kingdoms S. M. Rowley
Part II. Early English Literature: 7. Across borders: Anglo-Saxon England and the Germanic world Rolf H. Bremmer, Jr
8. English literature in the ninth century Susan Irvine
9. The writing of history in the early Middle Ages: the Anglo-Saxon chronicle in context Renée R. Trilling
10. The literary languages of Old English: words, styles, voices Joshua Davies
11. Old English poetic form: genre, style, prosody Haruko Momma
12. Beowulf: a poem in our time Gillian R. Overing
13. Old English lyrics: a poetics of experience Kathleen Davis
14. Literature in pieces: female sanctity and the relics of early women's writing Diane Watt
15. Saintly lives: friendship, kinship, gender and sexuality L. M. C. Weston
16. Sacred history and Old English religious poetry Andrew Scheil
17. Performing Christianity: liturgical and devotional writing Christopher A. Jones
18. Riddles, wonder and responsiveness in Anglo-Saxon literature Patricia Dailey
Part III. Latin Learning and the Literary Vernaculars: 19. In measure, and number, and weight: writing science R. M. Liuzza
20. Legal documentation and the practice of English law Lisi Oliver
21. Latinities, 893–1143 David Townsend
22. The authority of English, 900–1150 Elaine Treharne
23. Crossing the language divide: Anglo-Scandinavian language and literature Russell Poole
24. European literature and eleventh-century England Thomas O' Donnell, Matthew Townend and Elizabeth M. Tyler
25. Gaelic literature in Ireland and Scotland, 900–1150 Thomas Clancy
26. Writing in Welsh to 1150: re-creating the past, shaping the future Sioned Davies.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], Literature: history & criticism [DS], Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF]