The History of English Poetry from the Close of the Eleventh to the Commencement of the Eighteenth Century

London: Printed for Thomas Tegg, 1824.

First real academic discussion of M.S. Cotton Nero A.x, the anon. Gawain and Pearl poet

(Item #830) The History of English Poetry from the Close of the Eleventh to the Commencement of the Eighteenth Century. Thomas Warton, Richard Price.

The History of English Poetry from the Close of the Eleventh to the Commencement of the Eighteenth Century

London: Printed for Thomas Tegg, 1824. Second edition. Four octavo volumes in the publisher's blue-grey paper-covered boards with cloth spines and paper spine labels. Complete with the engraved frontis of Thomas Warton. Staining along spine edge indicates some type of repair to the spine, but no cloth added, not rebacked, recased or otherwise muddled by restoration. Paper worn from board edges and spine cloth chipped at extremities, but internal contents are generally attractive. Warton's work on English Poetry, originally published 1774 - 1781, was quite valuable to the academic community, but Price's editorial notations in the second edition are quite phenomenal. He discusses the importance of Beowulf at length and highlights a few of the alliterative poems contained in M.S. Cott. Nero A.x. This is the first publication of any work from this manuscript, which includes: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Cleanness, and Patience. All works are attributed to the same author, although still anonymous, it is generally agreed that his late fourteenth century verse is some of the most important from the era. (Item #830)

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The History of English Poetry from the Close of the Eleventh to the Commencement of the Eighteenth Century