The two-volume Broadview Anthology of British Literature, Concise Edition provides an attractive alternative to the full six-volume anthology. Though much more compact, the concise edition nevertheless provides instructors with substantial choice, offering both a strong selection of canonical authors and a sampling of lesser-known works. With an unparalleled number of illustrations and contextual materials, accessible and engaging introductions, and full explanatory annotations, the concise edition of this acclaimed Broadview anthology provides focused yet wide-ranging coverage for British literature survey courses. Highlights of Volume A R.M. Liuzza's acclaimed translation of Beowulf, along with new translations by Liuzza of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People and the Exeter Book Elegies; translations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Marie de France's Lanval, set in parallel-column format with the original texts; a section on "The Elizabethan Sonnet and Lyric" showing the development of the sonnet both in England and across various countries in continental Europe; a new approach to King Lear, in which the full Folio version is printed along with three key scenes from the Quarto version (presented in parallel-column format); a section on "Laboring Class Poets" that includes poems by Mary Collier, Stephen Duck, and Mary Leapor; and the complete text of William Wycherley's key eighteenth-century drama The Country Wife.
NOTE: I HAVE NOT READ THE ENTIRE BOOK, ONLY SELECTED PASSAGES FROM THIS BOOK BUT SINCE GOODREADS WON'T LET ME ADD THEM MANUALLY, I HAVE TO PUT THIS BOOK AS READ
PASSAGES READ FROM THIS BOOK: - Corpus Christi Plays - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Quem Queritus - Mary Magdalene - Mankind (2x)
I had to read this book as a part of my English uni topic 'Epochs of English'. I enjoyed learning about the history and how it linked to literature - in particular, I enjoyed the Medieval chapter.
This was one of my textbooks for the Fall 2012 semester. In reading this book, I was learning about the history and the works of the pieces of literature during this time period. Some pieces that we read are:
- Beowulf - The Canterbury Tales - Alfred the Great - Wulfstan - Julian of Norwich - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - and the Exeter Book Riddles
I have learned a lot during the reading of this book, and I hope to learn more in Volume 2. If you are wanted to learn about the literature of this time period, this is the book for you.
Very easy to read, clear language, and of course - a great topic!
It has the Canterbury Tales, with an introduction to Chaucer, The Dream of the Rood, Bede, Gildas, Beowulf and others. I had a lot of fun (and a lot of work too!) reading this.
There are some interesting and less interesting works in this anthology.
However, my favourite is the poem "Sumer is icumen in": the trick is that you have to read it out loud, as loud and fast as possible. Then it becomes a weirdly brilliant fusion of voice and word.