Walter William Skeat was an English philologist dedicated to the study of older forms of the English language. His scholarly efforts centered primarily on Middle English, where he undertook extensive editorial work. Skeat is widely recognized for his definitive editions of works by authors such as Chaucer and Langland, making these canonical texts accessible to a broader readership. His significant contribution to the field lies in his meticulous textual scholarship and profound understanding of the historical evolution of the language.
The pioneering work on the roots & origins of the English language. The remarkable scholarship of Walter W. Skeat (1835-1912) was instrumental in the revival of the great works of early English literature, & he inspired later philologists & lexicographers. Skeat's astonishing detective work into the origins & development of the worlds most widely used language provides an unsurpassed guide to its flexibility & richness. This edition of his larger Etymological Dictionary is not a mere abridgment, but was entirely rewritten by Skeat.
Focusing on the essential principles of English etymology, this concise book presents a general overview aimed at readers seeking a deeper understanding of word origins. It highlights key concepts and practices necessary for anyone claiming familiarity with the subject, making it a valuable resource for linguists and language enthusiasts alike.
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 "Sources and Backgrounds" includes a large collection of contemporary religious and historical documents pertaining to the poem, including selections from the Douai Bible, accounts of the plague, and legal statutes.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 book presents the classic work of William Langland, The Vision of Piers the Plowman, in a modern English translation by Walter W. Skeat. The Vision of Piers the Plowman is one of the most important works of medieval English literature, blending religious allegory and social satire with vignettes of everyday life. Skeat's translation makes this seminal work accessible to modern readers.
