Guide to Scripts Used in English Writings Up to 1500

Description

The resurgence of interest in the history of the English language has prompted this indispensable introductory guide to the scripts used in Old and Middle English writing. The best way to gain a sense of changes in scripts across time is through visual examples. The reader is introduced gradually to vocabulary suitable for the description of script through a range of plates, for example, Caedmon's 'Hymn' (the earliest extant English poem); the opening of an Exeter Book poem; the Lindisfarne Gospels; the opening page of King Alfred's first translation; an illustrated version of the story of Abraham and Isaac; passages from the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'; early (Layamon) and late tellings of the story of Arthur (Malory); contrasting manuscripts of Chaucer's 'Troilus and Criseyde'; Langland; York plays. Each plate is reproduced full size where possible, accompanied by a full transcript, commentary and notes. Some symbols used and other miscellaneous information xiii Acknowledgements xv I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 COLOURED PLATES SECTION between pages 12-13 II. INSULAR BACKGROUND 13 III. ANGLO-SAXON MINUSCULE 38 IV. ENGLISH CAROLINE MINUSCULE 85 V. PROTOGOTHIC 104 VI. THE GOTHIC SYSTEM OF SCRIPTS: GOTHIC 'TEXTUALIS' 140 VII. THE GOTHIC SYSTEM OF SCRIPTS: ANGLICANA 161 VIII. THE GOTHIC SYSTEM OF SCRIPTS: SECRETARY 211 IX. AFTERWORD 255 REFERENCES 259 INDEXES 276