The Oxford Book of Late Medieval Verse and Prose

by Douglas Gray

This anthology covers a period in English literature—from the death of Chaucer to the early years of Henry VIII's reign—which produced a variety of rich and fascinating writings. Chosen by Douglas Gray, the representative works in this collection include songs, ballads, and romances by familiar authors such as Malory, Henryson, Skelton, and More, as well as never-before published texts and some works previously available only in obscure editions. Gray provides the full text, along with a commentary and detailed glossary, for a number of works, including The Testament of Cresseid, Mankind, and Everyman.
The book not only focuses not literary representations, but also offers a colorful picture of the time by setting private letters, scenes from chronicles, and extracts from books on alchemy, medicine, hunting, and fishing alongside Malory's moving account of the death of Arthur or charming stories from the Golden Legend. It also includes recipes for salmon, stewed partridge, and ones that promise to make hair grow, and tips for pilgrims going to the Holy Land. As a whole, The Oxford Book of Late Medieval Verse and Prose forms an impressive, entertaining affirmation of the period as one of ferment and achievement.

586 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 1985

About the author

Prof Douglas Gray, FBA, was JRR Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language and Professorial Fellow at LMH from 1980 to 1997. Previously he was a Fellow at Pembroke College, Oxford.

Prof Grey won the English Association's 2010 Beatrice White Prize. The prize is awarded for outstanding scholarly work in the field of English Literature before 1590, and Prof Gray was awarded his prize for his book Later Medieval English Literature.

Prof Gray was elected to an Honorary Fellowship in 1997.

Reviews

[Jake P · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best anthologies are treasure houses, where every page is an unexpected gem. This book is a delight. There are well-chosen selections and extracts you’d expect: Malory, the Scots Makars (Henryson’s Testament of Cresseid is complete),”Everyman” and “Mankind”, the great lyrics like “The Western Wind” and “The Corpus Christi Carol.” But I’m as apt to remember the Black Douglas and the Bruce’s heart, the Knight of Courtesy, seven signs of the plague, Arthur of Little Britain at the Port Noir, Jane Shore.... a wonderful read. The glossary is, perhaps, not always perfectly useful, but that’s a minor complaint for a masterful anthology.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for anybody interested in medieval literature. Then what can you expect from J R R Tolkein?