Originally published in 1981, this second edition built on the success of the first which had established itself as a standard introduction to the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. It shows Chaucer not only in the context of his own age, but, more important, as a writer and a man who is still vivid to us so many years later. As well as examining the early poems, Troilus and Criseyde, and The Canterbury Tales the author gives a thorough account of Chaucer's background. He examines the traditions in which he wrote, his audience, and his position among his contemporaries. The second edition was updated throughout and included a number of revisions and additions, in particular on the second part of the Roman de la Rose and on The Knight's Tale.

Originally published in 1969 Piers Plowman is a collection of 12 original essays by leading academics on Piers Plowman. As a combined volume, this collection forms a substantial introduction and a comprehensive account of the poem, its background and textual problems. The book's essays reflect the diversity, and vigour of criticism in the field of medieval literature and opens new perspectives in the study of one of its finest poems.

Originally published in 1969 Piers Plowman is a collection of 12 original essays by leading academics on Piers Plowman. As a combined volume, this collection forms a substantial introduction and a comprehensive account of the poem, its background and textual problems. The book's essays reflect the diversity, and vigour of criticism in the field of medieval literature and opens new perspectives in the study of one of its finest poems.

Originally published in 1981, this second edition built on the success of the first which had established itself as a standard introduction to the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. It shows Chaucer not only in the context of his own age, but, more important, as a writer and a man who is still vivid to us so many years later. As well as examining the early poems, Troilus and Criseyde, and The Canterbury Tales the author gives a thorough account of Chaucer's background. He examines the traditions in which he wrote, his audience, and his position among his contemporaries. The second edition was updated throughout and included a number of revisions and additions, in particular on the second part of the Roman de la Rose and on The Knight's Tale.

The 'correct' use of English has been the subject of vigorous debate in recent years. But what defines 'correctness' in our use of language? And how has this altered over time? In this authoritative survey of the history of the English language, the author examines how linguistic traditions have changed and developed over the centuries to produce the language that we are familiar with today.
Taking present-day usage as its starting point, the book uses a topic-based approach to explore the historical development of vocabulary, grammar, syntax, sounds and spellings, thus providing both a firm sense of the structure of the language and an outline of its history.

Professor Hussey looks at the vocabulary, syntax and register of Renaissance English, following this with a more detailed analysis of particular kinds of language in the plays such as prose, verse, rhetoric and the soliloquy. For this new edition, the text has been revised throughout with, in particular, a completely new chapter providing detailed readings of selected plays, illustrating the ways particular aspects of language can be studied in practice.

Professor Hussey looks at the vocabulary, syntax and register of Renaissance English, following this with a more detailed analysis of particular kinds of language in the plays such as prose, verse, rhetoric and the soliloquy. For this new edition, the text has been revised throughout with, in particular, a completely new chapter providing detailed readings of selected plays, illustrating the ways particular aspects of language can be studied in practice.