William Langland is presumed to be the author of a masterpiece of Middle English poetry, an allegorical work exploring a rich tapestry of religious themes. A significant achievement of his writing is its ability to translate the language and concepts of the cloister into symbols and images accessible to the common person. While the overall language of the poem is simple and colloquial, Langland employs imagery that is both powerful and direct. His work demonstrates a profound understanding of medieval theology and a deep commitment to Christian doctrine, even as he critically observes the failings of his contemporary churchmen and religious figures.
The book offers a contemporary English translation of the 14th-century Middle English poem "Piers Plowman," focusing on the A version, recognized as the shortest and most authentic. It includes comprehensive annotations to enhance understanding and is accompanied by an introduction that provides essential historical and literary context, enriching the reader's experience of this classic work.
Piers Plowman is one of the most significant works of medieval literature. Astonishing in its cultural and theological scope, William Langland’s iconoclastic masterpiece is at once a historical relic and a deeply spiritual vision, probing not only the social and religious aristocracy but also the day-to-day realities of a largely voiceless proletariat class. E. Talbot Donaldson’s translation of the text has been selected for this Norton Critical Edition because of its skillful emulation of the original poem’s distinct alliterative verse. Selections of the authoritative Middle English text are also included for comparative analysis. "Sources and Backgrounds" includes a large collection of contemporary religious and historical documents pertaining to the poem, including selections from the Douai Bible, accounts of the plague, and legal statutes. "Criticism" includes twenty interpretive essays by leading medievalists, among them E. Talbot Donaldson, George Kane, Jill Mann, Derek Pearsall, C. David Benson, and Elizabeth D. Kirk. A Glossary and Selected Bibliography are also included.
This fourth edition offers a faithful reprint of the 1886 original, showcasing the enduring significance of William Langland's allegorical poem, "Piers the Plowman." The work delves into themes of social justice, morality, and the human condition through a series of dream visions. Readers can expect a rich exploration of medieval thought and spirituality, presented in a high-quality format that preserves the text's historical integrity.