A new and completely revised edition of this authoritative work intended toencourage personal appreciation and independent appraisal by students ofEnglish. This... » 

A new and completely revised edition of this authoritative work intended toencourage personal appreciation and independent appraisal by students ofEnglish. This is a stimulating introduction to the poetry composed in an agethat witnessed fundamental cultural developments the emergence of the Englishfrom among the warring tribes of Europe their conversion to Christianity thedevelopment of feudalism and the chivalric myth the military adventure of theCrusades and the growth of a vigorous citizen class in the burgeoning towns ofEngland. Swanton writes with real intelligence and great energy and many ofhis brief essays on individual works become quite powerful statements . . . heis a sympathetic and at times superb reader of the poetry. Speculum «