Description
Book SynopsisDepicting one of the defining conflicts of tenth-century England,
The Battle of Maldon immortalises the bloody fight that took place along the banks of the tidal river Blackwater in 991, poignantly expressing the lore and language of a determined nation faced with the advance of a ruthless and relentless enemy. But, as Mark Atherton reveals,
The Battle of Maldon is more than a heroic tale designed to inspire courage and unity in a time of crisis: rather, it celebrates ideals of loyalty and friendship and commemorates an event which changed the face of English culture. Using Atherton's own vivid and illuminating translations from Old English,
The Battle of Maldon: War and Peace in Tenth-Century England evokes the chaotic ebb and flow of the battle while also placing Maldon' in the context of its age. Seeking to reconstruct the way of life, the spirituality and the worldview of the original audience, Atherton examines how and why the poem encouraged its readers to re
Trade ReviewIn this fascinating and highly readable book, Mark Atherton discusses ‘The Battle of Maldon’, one of the most famous of all poems to survive from early medieval England, providing an insightful analysis of its Old English text, and situating it in its proper late tenth-century historical and literary context. An extremely informative and engaging contribution. * David Woodman, Senior Tutor and Fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge, UK *
A work of devoted scholarship and a treasure trove for research into the history and literature of the Anglo-Saxons, Atherton offers a model of how to read a single poem with reference to its exact language as well as to the fine grain of topography, social history, religious observance, and related matters from falconry to friendship. This book should be welcomed by students and specialists alike. * John D. Niles, Professor Emeritus of Humanities, University of Wisconsin Madison, USA *
This book has transformed my understanding of a poem I’ve been teaching for years. It is essential new reading for specialists and students of Old English literature, yet it is also written to appeal to any reader with an interest in English history, language, and landscape. I’ll be adding it to my syllabus and also recommending it to family and friends. * Hannah M. Bailey, Lecturer in English Literature and Language, University of Oxford, UK *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Maps Acknowledgements Introduction Part I. Approaches to
The Battle of Maldon 1. The Grounds of Maldon 2. Horse and Hawk 3. Hearth and Home 4. 'Here stands an earl' 5. 'Blessed is the man': Byrhtnoth's Prayer 6. 'From a great kindred in Mercia' 7. Feud and Friendship 8. The Battle of the Holme 9.
Beowulf and
Maldon Part II. After the Battle 10. 'And so to Maldon': The Account of the Battle in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 11. Byrhtferth of Ramsey's
Life of St Oswald 12. Memories of a Golden Age: 'Maldon' in
The Book of Ely Appendix 1.
The Battle of Maldon: Text and Translation Appendix 2. 'The Battle of the Holme': Text and Translation Appendix 3. The Case of Æthelric of Bocking: Text and Translation Appendix 4. The Will of Leofwine: Text and Translation Select Bibliography Index
