Essentials of Early English: Old, Middle and Early Modern English

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Routledge, May 19, 2006 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 264 pages

This is a completely revised and updated edition of a highly successful textbook.

It provides a practical and highly accessible introduction to the early stages of the English language: Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English. Designed specifically as a handbook for students beginning the study of early English language, whether for linguistic or literary purposes, it presumes little or no prior knowledge of the history of English.


Features of this second edition include:

  • newly added Middle English and Early Modern English sample texts and accompanying notes
  • a new section on historical methods
  • web links and an updated annotated bibliography.

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About the author (2006)

Jeremy Smith is Reader in English Language at the University of Glasgow and has been actively teaching Early English for 20 years. He is the author of An Historical Study of English (1996)

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