Introduction to Old English: Amazon.co.uk: Peter S. Baker: Books

Review

"Excellent introduction designed to provide reading knowledge ... He [Baker] constructs the book to encourage beginning students to start translating almost immediately" (The Medieval Review, June 2008)

"In its references to web–sites and computer–links, An Introduction to Old English is very much a book of the twenty–first century; and many of its novel features – for example the chapter on the grammar of poetry, or the appendix on common spelling variants – will be extraordinarily helpful to teachers and students alike."
(Michael Lapidge, University of Notre Dame)

"Baker′s Introduction is the kind of book that students of Old English – and their teachers – have been waiting for for a long time." (Hugh Magennis, Queen′s University Belfast)

"This is a truly outstanding textbook for today′s student of Old English. Written in lucid and friendly prose, Baker brings the language to life in a manner that will inspire students." (Elaine Treharne, University of Leicester)

"Peter Baker′s Introduction to Old English offers an innovative combination of the traditional and the cutting edge. Beginning with the basics of the language, the chapters proceed through intelligently paced levels so that by the end the user is reading the most sophisticated literature in Old English." (Daniel G. Donoghue, Harvard University)

"The fruit of years of sensitive, thoughtful and student–responsive teaching. [...] this work is a huge step forward in imaginative course design. It is accessible in manner and genuinely tries to address the needs of the modern student and teacher, taking them through a course step by step. [...] by far the best attempt yet to introduce Old English, and I enthusiastically recommend it to members." (TOEBI Newsletter)

"Peter Baker′s excellent new book, a combined grammar and reader, deserves to find a central place in the university teaching of Old English. It is unabashedly designed to be accessible to absolute beginners, but students who progress attentively through the whole book will in fact find themselves in command of a great deal of what makes Old English language and literature tick. […] These chapters [on ‘Metre’, Poetic Style’, ‘The Grammar of Poetry’, and ‘Reading Old English Manuscripts’] constitute the real novelty of the book in their lucid summation of some essential truths that have rarely if ever been to clearly set out for beginners; the sections on poetry in particular deserve to be read by all students beginning the translation of Old English for the first time.” (Notes and Queries)

“The new edition is a solid tool that both an independent student and a classroom full of students will find useful. The book′s approach is balanced. It includes just the right amount of explanatory text … while also offering … grammar tools and exercises. The selection of readings is varied and exemplary. Much thought was put into the choice, quantity, and order of the other texts in the anthology. I would certainly recommend this book for an introductory course in Old English … .Baker′s new edition is a pleasure to read and would be a pleasure to use in the classroom.” (Comitatus)

Product Description

Introduction to Old English is the leading text available designed to help students engage with Old English literary and historical texts for the first time. This new edition builds on the success of the original and includes an expanded anthology and new, easy–to–use glossary.

Assumes no expertise in other languages or in traditional grammar
Includes basic grammar reviews at the beginning of each major chapter
Features ′Minitexts′ to give students practice reading Old English
Includes two chapters on syntax and three on reading poetry
Provides a collection of key Old English texts, including ′The Wanderer′, ′The Dream of the Rood′ and ′Judith′
Accompanied by the author′s Old English Aerobics website featuring additional readings and exercises

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

An Excellent Resource as both a Primer and a Reference Book 9 Sep 2005

By Neal S. Brodsky

Format:Paperback

As a learning tool, Peter S. Baker's Introduction to Old English succeeds marvellously in that it is concise and clear without erring on the side of oversimplification. The ordering of chapters is intuitive and the key concepts are easily accreted along the way; in comparatively little time readers will acquire a wealth of knowledge, and in its practicality the book is sure not to intimidate the uninitiated.

The basic review of English grammar is both thorough and efficient without being overly pedantic. Unfortunately, more and more students of English are finding themselves ill-equipped and poorly acquainted with the basics of grammar. Baker's review will familiarize them with the grammatical essentials while simultaneously providing a useful review to those more accustomed to them. There is sufficient treatment of the main topics in the text without any superfluous explication that might confuse the introductory reader. Baker's plain English explanations are unambiguous and, where possible, he offers Modern English correlates and analogues that effectively frame the linguistic topic being discussed.

The chapters on the style and grammar of poetry are essential resources. Poetry makes up such a significant part of the extant Anglo-Saxon literature that it would be a failure on the part of the author to leave the student stranded in the intricacies of the form. Taking the chapter on reading manuscripts into consideration, as well as the appendices, Baker helps the student build a truly solid foundation upon which to base further study. The glossary, for example, allows students who are as yet unfamiliar Anglo-Saxon word forms to easily find what they are looking for, and will furnish them with the skills they need to approach more ambitious dictionaries.

The companion web site provides a variety of resources for the student. The Old English "Magic Sheet" is a tool that students will find invaluable in their initial approach to Anglo-Saxon Literature. As the student refers to it repeatedly in his or her reading, he or she will quickly become more familiar with the forms and may soon be weaned off of it. In each chapter there are references to relevant "Old English Aerobics" exercises online, which can assist students in need of some basic practice with the material. The ability to look up a word, part of speech, or clause with the click of a button is a testament to the work that was put into developing the resource. While I must applaud the author's forward thinking and effective use of the technology, getting a sufficient amount of online time may yet provide challenges at times for certain students, and the exercises themselves can prove somewhat short and elementary. A simple solution to these minor problems might be to include self tutorial exercises in a new edition, or to publish a companion workbook at some point in the future. To my knowledge, no such resource exists in Old English, and it must be said that there is simply no substitute for routine practice when learning a new language.

These minor concerns are truly subordinate to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Though the book itself may not be a substitute for practice, passages appropriate for initiates to tackle and translate are included in the anthology, and students will find themselves far better equipped to approach Old English after having covered the main topics. It was with great pleasure that I found my own abilities dramatically improved after simply having covered the sixteen initial chapters. Introduction to Old English proves to be not only an exceedingly effective primer with regard to Anglo-Saxon literature, but an invaluable reference to accompany further readings and studies within the context of the language. Every student of Old English should sleep with a copy of this book under their pillow.

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29 of 34 people found the following review helpful

Not for the beginner 24 Sep 2004

By A Customer

Having been stumped by Bruce Mitchell's Old English primers, I had hoped that this would offer a less daunting approach, but sadly I found it much the same standard. The book states that it avoids technical jargon but this is not the case, and the fact that the author is American means that the pronunciation guide refers to General American rather than RP. The online exercises and readings are not 'supplementary' but a core part of the book, and if you don't have the right sort of software you're stuck. There's one answer to all this - get one Stephen Pollington's books instead! They are ideal for the beginner and ensure rapid progress with Old English. With Baker you don't stand a chance.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Absorbing 25 May 2010

By Jean Baptiste

Be warned: this is probably not the book to start with if you are a complete beginner. The chapters on grammar might be overwhelming and the "minitexts" for translation - scattered throughtout the book - come with no translations of their own. Better for the initial stage is Beginning Old English

However, if you have already leaped the first few fences in the study of Old English, then you will find this book both absorbing and rewarding.

Baker is authoritative on the grammar of poetry particularly, but the essential substance of the book is a thorough grounding in the subject, and though work is required, the payback is worth the effort.

Facsimiles are included, together with an anthology of key texts. In the end the reader begins to realise the wisdom of the policy of not providing translations; this book requires you to think for yourself, and equipped with the instruction of the opening chapters it's perfectly possible to acquire sufficient skills to negotiate even the most abstruse pieces of Old English. (The subject of translation is a somewhat sticky one, but this book skillfully bypasses these areas and puts the onus on the student to make up his or her own mind.)

The website links are largely irrelevant, an uneccessary gimmick. Concentrate on the words on the page. They are well worth reading.