National Life and Character in the Mirror of Early English Literature

Originally published in 1907, this title constructs a historical account of life in medieval England through the use of literary sources. The book begins with the Anglo-Saxon settlement and ends at approximately 1400, providing a broad narrative of English national development. This narrative directly incorporates material from a wide variety of literary sources, with comprehensive references appearing in the margin. As noted in the preface, these references are an essential component of the text, removing it ‘from the domain of pure imaginative fiction to the sure ground of a literary and historic reflection of real life and character’. This is a highly readable book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in medieval English history and literature.