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The Battle of Maldon is an Old English poem depicting a bloody
skirmish along the banks of the tidal river Blackwater in 991 and
poignantly conjures the lore and language of a nation with its
collective back to the wall when faced by the depredations of a
ruthless and relentless enemy. But, as Mark Atherton reveals, this
poem is more than a heroic tale designed to inspire courage and
valour: rather, it was a pioneering event which determined wider
culture and polity in England. Using his own vivid translations
from Old English, The Battle of Maldon: War and Peace in Tenth
Century England evokes the chaotic ebb and flow of the battle while
also placing Maldon in the context of its age. Seeking to
reconstruct the culture and worldview of the original audience,
Atherton examines how and why the poem encouraged readers to relive
and experience the battle - from its brutal hand-to-hand fighting
to the slaying of Byrthnoth - for themselves in order to impact the
destiny of England. With this study, Mark Atherton provides the
authoritative treatment of this iconic text, its history and its
legacy. As such, this book will be a vital resource for all
scholars of Old English literature, the Anglo-Saxons and early
medieval history more generally.
During the tenth century England began to emerge as a distinct
country with an identity that was both part of yet separate from
'Christendom'. The reigns of Athelstan, Edgar and Ethelred
witnessed the emergence of many key institutions: the formation of
towns on modern street plans; an efficient administration; and a
serviceable system of tax. Mark Atherton here shows how the
stories, legends, biographies and chronicles of Anglo-Saxon England
reflected both this exciting time of innovation as well as the
myriad lives, loves and hates of the people who wrote them. He
demonstrates, too, that this was a nation coming of age, ahead of
its time in its use not of the Book-Latin used elsewhere in Europe,
but of a narrative Old English prose devised for law and practical
governance of the nation-state, for prayer and preaching, and above
all for exploring a rich and daring new literature. This prose was
unique, but until now it has been neglected for the poetry.
Bringing a volatile age to vivid and muscular life, Atherton argues
that it was the vernacular of Alfred the Great, as much as Viking
war, that truly forged the nation.
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Selected Writings (Paperback, Reissue)
Hildegard of Bingen; Introduction by Mark Atherton; Notes by Mark Atherton; Translated by Mark Atherton
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R338
Discovery Miles 3 380
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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Hildegard, 'the Sybil of the Rhine', was a Cistercian nun, a prophet, and one of the most prolific and original women writers of the 12th century. Arranged thematically, this new selection brings together extracts from her trilogy of visionary writings, her treatise on medicine and the natural world (Causes and Cures), and her choral music (Symphonia), and documents relating to her life and work. She recorded her visions with startling imagery and brings her theology to the reader with relevant and colourful illustrations.
Designed for complete beginners, and tested for years with real
learners, Complete Old English offers a bridge from the textbook to
the real world, enabling you to learn the grammar, understand the
vocabulary and even how to translate such canonical texts as
Beowulf and the earliest version of the Lord's Prayer from a
critical point in our history.Structured around authentic material,
using online audio to aid pronunciation, and introducing both a
grammar perspective and a full introduction to essential
vocabulary, this course also features: -22 learning units plus maps
and verb guide-New edition features key set texts in an Appendix,
in a title suitable for classroom or self-study use-Authentic
materials - language taught through key texts-Teaches the key
skills - reading and understanding Old English grammar and
vocabulary-Culture insights - learn about the culture and religion
of the Anglo-Saxons-Self tests and learning activities - see and
track your own progressRely on Teach Yourself, trusted by language
learners for over 75 years.
'Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.' The
prophetic words of Galadriel, addressed to Frodo as he prepared to
travel from Lothlorien to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, are just
as pertinent to J R R Tolkien's own fiction. For decades, hobbits
and the other fantastical creatures of Middle-earth have captured
the imaginations of a fiercely loyal tribe of readers, all enhanced
by the immense success of Peter Jackson's films: first "The Lord of
the Rings", and now his new "The Hobbit". But for all Tolkien's
global fame and the familiarity of modern culture with Gandalf,
Bilbo, Frodo and Sam, the sources of the great mythmaker's own
myth-making have been neglected. Mark Atherton here explores the
chief influences on Tolkien's work: his boyhood in the West
Midlands; the landscapes and seascapes which shaped his
mythologies; his experiences in World War I; his interest in
Scandinavian myth; his friendships, especially with the other
Oxford-based Inklings; and the relevance of his themes, especially
ecological themes, to the present-day. "There and Back Again"
offers a unique guide to the varied inspirations behind Tolkien's
life and work, and sheds new light on how a legend is born.
'Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.' The
prophetic words of Galadriel, addressed to Frodo as he prepared to
travel from Lothlorien to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, are just
as pertinent to J R R Tolkien's own fiction. For decades, hobbits
and the other fantastical creatures of Middle-earth have captured
the imaginations of a fiercely loyal tribe of readers, all enhanced
by the immense success of Peter Jackson's films: first 'The Lord of
the Rings', and now his new 'The Hobbit'. But for all Tolkien's
global fame and the familiarity of modern culture with Gandalf,
Bilbo, Frodo and Sam, the sources of the great mythmaker's own
myth-making have been neglected. Mark Atherton here explores the
chief influences on Tolkien's work: his boyhood in the West
Midlands; the landscapes and seascapes which shaped his
mythologies; his experiences in World War I; his interest in
Scandinavian myth; his friendships, especially with the other
Oxford-based Inklings; and the relevance of his themes, especially
ecological themes, to the present-day. There and Back Again offers
a unique guide to the varied inspirations behind Tolkien's life and
work, and sheds new light on how a legend is born.
During the tenth century England began to emerge as a distinct
country with an identity that was both part of yet separate from
'Christendom'. The reigns of Athelstan, Edgar and Ethelred
witnessed the emergence of many key institutions: the formation of
towns on modern street plans; an efficient administration; and a
serviceable system of tax. Mark Atherton here shows how the
stories, legends, biographies and chronicles of Anglo-Saxon England
reflected both this exciting time of innovation as well as the
myriad lives, loves and hates of the people who wrote them. He
demonstrates, too, that this was a nation coming of age, ahead of
its time in its use not of the Book-Latin used elsewhere in Europe,
but of a narrative Old English prose devised for law and practical
governance of the nation-state, for prayer and preaching, and above
all for exploring a rich and daring new literature. This prose was
unique, but until now it has been neglected for the poetry.
Bringing a volatile age to vivid and muscular life, Atherton argues
that it was the vernacular of Alfred the Great, as much as Viking
war, that truly forged the nation.
Depicting one of the defining conflicts of tenth-century England,
The Battle of Maldon immortalises the bloody fight that took place
along the banks of the tidal river Blackwater in 991, poignantly
expressing the lore and language of a determined nation faced with
the advance of a ruthless and relentless enemy. But, as Mark
Atherton reveals, The Battle of Maldon is more than a heroic tale
designed to inspire courage and unity in a time of crisis: rather,
it celebrates ideals of loyalty and friendship and commemorates an
event which changed the face of English culture. Using Atherton's
own vivid and illuminating translations from Old English, The
Battle of Maldon: War and Peace in Tenth-Century England evokes the
chaotic ebb and flow of the battle while also placing 'Maldon' in
the context of its age. Seeking to reconstruct the way of life, the
spirituality and the worldview of the original audience, Atherton
examines how and why the poem encouraged its readers to relive the
visceral experience of battle for themselves. With this exciting
study, Atherton provides an authoritative treatment of this iconic
text, its history and its legacy. As such, this important book will
be a vital resource for all readers of Old English literature and
early medieval history.
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