The Anglo-Saxon World: An Anthology (Oxford World's Classics)

I really can not recommend this collection highly enough. This book consists of several Anglo-Saxon texts, some excerpted, some in their entirety, of various types. It has, various forms of poetry, heroic, elegiac, epic, religious, it has historical texts, educational texts, legal texts, medical texts, all sorts of things. Although there’s lots of stuff in here that’s available elsewhere, especially the poetry and historical material, there’s also plenty of stuff that probably isn’t easy to find in a popular translation, and thus wouldn’t be very accessible to non-academics. All in all it provides a very good overview of the Anglo-Saxon world, it’s culture and history (although in the latter case it doesn’t go into much detail for the most part). One might complain that the translations for the poetry are not the best out there, but that misses the point somewhat, as the poetry is not presented here primarily for literary merit but for understanding of the themes and cultural ideas that the poetry focuses on, and the place poetry had in the broader Anglo-Saxon culture. If you want better translations of the poetry you’re better off finding a collection that focuses exclusively on poetry. The only other problem is that there are no annotations. There are short introductions for each of the sections of texts, but I don’t think they really provide sufficient context and information on their own. Annotations would’ve been nice in that regard. If you’re at all interested in medieval culture or the Anglo-Saxons in particular I would recommend this book.

This book has original source writing of Anglo-Saxon Britain before the land was politically united. They are a group of people that ruled England for several hundred years after the Romans, (who came after the Celts, who came after Ancient Brits). After the Anglo-Saxons, the Normans took Britain in 1066. That is where this book ends. The problem with this book is there is scant information about Pagan Britain pre-400 AD. I would have liked written and archaeological sources. 90 percent of the book is about early Christianity and such in England. This info is widely available and not as interesting to me, as I am more into nature worship and Paganism in general. A plus for this volume, is that it includes Beowulf, but religious diversity here is underwhelming.

This is a well-considered collection, a good balance of types and content. I enjoyed it very much and can recommend it.

I’m sure I could’ve found it cheaper somewhere online. I didn’t really want to read it but I’m sure it’s pretty good otherwise.

Great Collection of source material in one volume. Wish there was more analysis or commentary on the individual texts.

This collection gives a nice broad overview of the Anglo-Saxon culture by providing examples of various kinds of Anglo-Saxon literature. It includes various forms of poetry (including a complete translation of "Beowulf"), excerpts from several historical records, various letters, and some legal documents.I was not especially impressed with the poetry translation; the alliteration is sporadic in the extreme and the division of each line into two half lines of two beats was occasionally lacking. Seamus Heaney has a much better (stylistically speaking) translation of Beowulf and Lee Hollander is much more consistent in his translation of the very similar Norse poetry.Overall: a nice broad introduction to the Anglo-Saxon culture, but the poetry translation is stylistically lacking.

This is a delightful anthology. The variety and quality of content captivates, the introductions to each category of material inform, and the tone of the editor is disarming and appealing. Excellent for anyone interested in this period.

It is one of the few books I have found that actually has some of the early Anglo-Saxon literature, rather than some ones commentaries about the literature. It was wonderful reading and a joy to be reminded of the fact that such great writing was authored centuries ago.

This is one of my favourite books. I dip into it again and again. Kevin Crossley-Holland's translations are lively and very readable. I absolutely adore the poems, in particular The Battle of Maldon (Byrhtwold, how I love you!), The Wanderer, The Ruin and, of course, Beowulf. There is a lovely mix of poems, letters, charters, riddles, sermons, charms and remedies. Want to get rid of a wart? Look no further. There is a charm for it here. Also a salve to get rid of elves. I will bear it in mind if I am ever plagued by elves.

Read some of this author's work back at university for my dissertation many years ago so I have enjoyed picking up his writing again. Returning to study literature once more after a long break from academia and this period is relatively new to me so I've found the book accessible and very useful. It gives an engaging overview of the literature of the time and an insight into the milieu of the Anglo-Saxon world which supports your understanding of the texts in translation.

Beeing a very proud Englishman and having read a lot of history the Anglo Saxons have evaded me until I read this book , Bede and characters like him are truely brought to life a very good read however a hard read.

Love this book it has some really interesting stories and poems.

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