Piers Plowman by William Langland: A New Annotated Edition of the C-Text (University of Exeter Press - Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies) [Paperback]

William Langland (Author), Derek Pearsall (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0859897842 | ISBN-13: 978-0859897846

William Langland’s poem Piers Plowman treats several important aspects of late fourteenth-century life: ideological conflict, social upheaval, and the changing role of religious thought. Vividly encapsulating the great debates of the day, it acts as a commentary on such historically significant events and ideas as the Peasants’ Revolt (1381) and medieval allegory. Its engagement with religion and politics aside, Piers Plowman stands as one of the greatest poems of the English Middle Ages, earning a place next to works by Dante and Chaucer. For this new and fully updated edition, Langland scholar Derek Pearsall has completely revised the C-text (part of an A-B-C textual chronology), adding helpful side-glosses for the student reader, revising and updating the explanatory notes, appending an up-to-date introduction and retaining the full glossary.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

“For the first time it is possible to see the C-text purged of scribal ineptitudes and arguably as Langland''s maturest work ... The effect, at times, is that of the bright colours of a Renaissance painting emerging from under the dirt, varnish and academic pieties of generations.” –English

(English )

“...Pearsall gives a great deal of aid with the social and political context of Piers, ranging from straightforward explanation of personal allusions or glosses on the detail of fourteenth-century ecclesiastical organization to fruitful comment on the largest questions about Langland''s society.” –English Language Notes

(English Language Notes )

“...a fine edition which will make the C Version more accessible and comprehensible, and, I hope, more widely read.” –Review of English Studies

(Review of English Studies )

"This volume has now been fully revised and reformatted, much to the benefit of all readers. . . . Those who do not own the previous edition--and many who do--will welcome this new edition."

(Choice )

About the Author

Derek Pearsall is professor emeritus at Harvard University. He has published widely on Langland and Chaucer, among other authors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: University of Exeter Press (November 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0859897842
• ISBN-13: 978-0859897846
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #791,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Scholarly Edition, September 1, 2009

By 

Otto Keiser - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Piers Plowman by William Langland: A New Annotated Edition of the C-Text (University of Exeter Press - Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies) (Paperback)

This edition of the C-text is handsomely presented and appears to have good notes. It appears to be the only commonly available edition of the C in Middle English (and interspersed Latin), and while I have some reservations about the rather large format, this is not a book that most of us will be taking to the beach for some light reading, anyway.

Editorial questions aside, I highly recommend the Plowman to anyone interested in good poetry and the medieval mindset. Langland was an alliterative genius, and this poetic form, so natural for the English language, allows for amazing depth of expression, not to mention being a refreshing change from rhyming metrical composition and from the stiff blandness of most modern so-called verse. The poem also opens a window on a whole way of thought that is rarely seen today, one grounded in religion and hierarchy. One prize example of this is the mind-expanding re-telling of the old cat-and-bell fable in the prologue, which the author transforms into an argument for obedience to even a flawed authority as better than popular rule.

Before you start in on this rewarding adventure in reading, I would offer a couple warnings:

1) This is not an easy read. Even with the notes, Middle English takes some getting used to, and Langland is a bit more difficult than Chaucer. He also includes a massive battery of historical, religious and philosophical references. Don't expect to understand all of them on the first try.

2) Accurate knowledge of Catholicism is extremely helpful. Langland was definitely Catholic(despite some intellectual blunders on his part), and this heavily influences his characters' thoughts and actions. Catholics who forgot their catechism lessons and non-Catholics will be very confused without prior study.

And now, why don't you get away from your computer screen and buckle down to some difficult but all the more enjoyable literature? Life is short, and you've got a lot of reading to do.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible edition of an intriguing poem, March 26, 2009

By 

J. Elliott (Natick, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Piers Plowman by William Langland: A New Annotated Edition of the C-Text (University of Exeter Press - Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies) (Paperback)

This new edition has an extended introduction, expanded notes, new line-end annotations for "difficult" words, and retains a useful glossary. Pearsall's edition has just the right aids to enable the non-expert to gain access to this deeply strange work, without spoiling the fun by draining it of its challenge and magic with scholarly analysis. Economou's translation of the C text is recommended as a companion for newcomers.