Oxford World's Classics: Anglo-Saxon: An Anthology

"A very pleasant anthology which presents the most important texts from the Anglo-Saxon period in good modern English translations....The reflections are wonderful and invite every reader to plunge into the world of pre-conquest England. It is a hndy treasure which students will cherish."--A. Classen, University of Arizona "An excellent anthology with fine translations."--Roy M. Liuzza, Tulane University "A very impressive collection that paints a complete picture of a key part of our cultural heritage."--Bruce L. Sublett, Angelina College "The introductions to the various chapters are well-written and informative. Overall, an excellent resource for an undergraduate course in Medieval English Literature."--Philip A. Genetti, Ph.D., Emmanuel College A well-chosen collection of prose and poetic texts clearly translated into modern English. An admirable companion to the study of the original texts in a beginning course in Old English."--Robert Kellogg, University of Virginia "A very pleasant anthology which presents the most important texts from the Anglo-Saxon period in good modern English translations....The reflections are wonderful and invite every reader to plunge into the world of pre-conquest England. It is a hndy treasure which students will cherish."--A. Classen, University of Arizona "An excellent anthology with fine translations."--Roy M. Liuzza, Tulane University "A very impressive collection that paints a complete picture of a key part of our cultural heritage."--Bruce L. Sublett, Angelina College "The introductions to the various chapters are well-written and informative. Overall, an excellent resource for an undergraduate course in Medieval English Literature."--Philip A. Genetti, Ph.D., Emmanuel College A well-chosen collection of prose and poetic texts clearly translated into modern English. An admirable companion to the study of the original texts in a beginning course in Old English."--Robert Kellogg, University of Virginia "A very pleasant anthology which presents the most important texts from the Anglo-Saxon period in good modern English translations....The reflections are wonderful and invite every reader to plunge into the world of pre-conquest England. It is a hndy treasure which students will cherish."--A. Classen, University of Arizona "An excellent anthology with fine translations."--Roy M. Liuzza, Tulane University "A very impressive collection that paints a complete picture of a key part of our cultural heritage."--Bruce L. Sublett, Angelina College "The introductions to the various chapters are well-written and informative. Overall, an excellent resource for an undergraduate course in Medieval English Literature."--Philip A. Genetti, Ph.D., Emmanuel College A well-chosen collection of prose and poetic texts clearly translated into modern English. An admirable companion to the study of the original texts in a beginning course in Old English."--Robert Kellogg, University of Virginia "A very pleasant anthology which presents the most important texts from the Anglo-Saxon period in good modern English translations....The reflections are wonderful and invite every reader to plunge into the world of pre-conquest England. It is a hndy treasure which students will cherish."--A. Classen, University of Arizona "An excellent anthology with fine translations."--Roy M. Liuzza, Tulane University "A very impressive collection that paints a complete picture of a key part of our cultural heritage."--Bruce L. Sublett, Angelina College "The introductions to the various chapters are well-written and informative. Overall, an excellent resource for an undergraduate course in Medieval English Literature."--Philip A. Genetti, Ph.D., Emmanuel College A well-chosen collection of prose and poetic texts clearly translated into modern English. An admirable companion to the study of the original texts in a beginning course in Old English."--Robert Kellogg, University of Virginia

Beowulf, The Battle of Maldon, The Dream of the Rood, The Wanderer, and The Seafarer are among the greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poems. They, and many other treasures, are included in The Anglo-Saxon World: chronicles, laws and letters, charters and charms, and above all superb poems. Here is a word picture of a people who came to these islands as pagans and yet within two hundred years had become Christians, to such effect that England was the centre of missionary endeavour and, for a time, the heart of European civilization. Kevin Crossley-Holland places poems and prose in context with his skilful interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon world; his translations have been widely acclaimed, and of Beowulf the poet Charles Causley has written, 'the poem has at last found its translator'.