Aelfric's Catholic Homilies: Introduction, Commentary and Glossary: 18 (Early English Text Society Supplementary Series) - Hardcover

Godden, Malcolm

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0197224199 ISBN 13: 9780197224199

Publisher: Early English Text Society, 2006

Synopsis

This is the third and final volume in the Early English Text Society's edition of AElfric's Catholic Homilies, a set of preaching texts in two series composed in Old English around 900 for the use of preachers throughout England. AElfric (monk of Winchester, and then Cerne Abbas, and the first abbot of Eynsham) was one of the leading scholars of his time and the foremost prose stylist of the Anglo-Saxon period.The Catholic Homilies represent the longest extant text in Old English, and are AElfric's most important work. The text of the Second Series, edited by M. R. Godden, was published in 1979, and the text of the Fisrt Series, edited by Peter Clemoes, in 1997; both volumes included an analysis of manuscripts and a detailed account of the textual history.This final volume gives an account of the origin, function, and dating of the Catholic Homilies and their Latin sources; a detailed commentary on all eighty homilies; and a glossary of all words occurring in the text.

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Review

No doubt this commentary will enable a clearer picture of Aelfric as this superlative edition works its way into general use in the field of Anglo-Saxon studies. (The Medieval Review)

This fine edition will no doubt serve the needs of the Anglo-Saxonist community in various important ways, and for those who work on Aelfric in particular, this edition will fill a long-standing need. (The Medieval Review)

... presents its vast amount of information in as many reader/researcher-friendly ways as possible. (The Medieval Review)

The critical reception of the Introduction has given the edition the praise and plaudits it deserves ... Anyone wishing to gain a quick overview of the state of Ælfric scholarship would be advised to put this Introduction on a short, essential reading list. (The Medieval Review)

A very useful summary list of sources used by Ælfric ... an essential companion to the two volumes. (Years Work in English Studies)

From each visit, the reader carries away a richer total understanding of Ælfric the intellectual, teacher, or translator. As it places so conveniently in the hands of a wide audience the materials necessary for any informed reading of the Homilies, this book alone will greatly facilitate future work on Ælfric. (Medium Ævum)

Scholars owe a twofold debt to Malcolm Godden for this book, important both for its own sake, as a research tool, and for the milestone it signals: completion of a long-needed critical edition of Ælfric's Old English Catholic Homilies. (Medium Ævum)

Godden's Introduction, Commentary, and Glossary brings a triumphant closure to a project that will be of immense value for years to come. Ælfric is fortunate in his editors. (Notes and Queries)

Edition details

• Publisher: Early English Text Society
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0197224199
• ISBN 13: 9780197224199
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 856