The Heroic Poetry of Dark-Age Britain [Hardcover]

Stephen S. Evans (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0761806067 | ISBN-13: 978-0761806066

Heroic Poetry provides a wide-ranging introduction to selected aspects of Britain's principal works of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon heroic poetry regarding their dating, method of composition, and use as historical sources. The historical and cultural context in which these poems were composed is recounted by examining court poets and their poetry, and the importance that they were accorded by the warrior-elite for whom they sang. The author also gives a brief review of oral theory and examines the applicability of oral theory to the examples of dark-age poetry. Under consideration is the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf and the Old Welsh poems The Gododdin and the poetry of Taliesin. The dating and transmission of these poems are discussed, plus a wide range of arguments to assign dates for composition. Beowulf's oral genesis is placed in the sixth century and a written version in the early seventh century. The author assigns Gododdin's composition to the mid-sixth century, while Taliesin's poetry is viewed to have been composed ca. 560-80. This book is unique in providing a clear and concise introduction for the heroic poetry of both the Britons and Anglo-Saxons.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...the reader, like the present reviewer, will find his book rewarding reading as a very useful conspectus of research.>>>> (J.E. Caerwyn Williams Studia Celtica )

"...the reader, like the present reviewer, will find his book rewarding reading as a very useful conspectus of research." (J.E. Caerwyn Williams Studia Celtica )

About the Author

Stephen S. Evans is also the author of The Lords of Battle: Image and Reality of the Comitatus in Dark-Age Britain (Boydell & Brewer, 1996).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: University Press Of America (February 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761806067
• ISBN-13: 978-0761806066
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,661,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent summary of a complex subject, June 8, 2006

By 

G. R. Grove "gwernin" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Heroic Poetry of Dark-Age Britain (Hardcover)

This book provides a thorough summary of recent scholarly research and debate on the dating of Beowulf, Y Gododdin, and the historical Taliesin poetry. Well written, clearly reasoned and even entertaining - the bibliography alone is worth the price of admission!