SWEET’S ANGLO-SAXON READER

SWEET’S ANGLO-SAXON READER
Author: C.T. Onions
Publisher: Oxford at the Clarendon Press
Edition: 1959 Edition
Pages: 312

Originally compiled by Henry Sweet and later revised by C.T. Onions, Sweet’s Anglo-Saxon Reader is a cornerstone resource for anyone studying the early stages of the English language. First published in the late 19th century, this 1959 Clarendon Press edition maintains its scholarly rigor while offering clearer annotations and a more accessible layout for modern readers. C.T. Onions, a renowned lexicographer and editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, brings his expertise to bear in refining and enriching Sweet’s original work.

The reader includes a carefully balanced selection of Anglo-Saxon prose and poetry—ranging from heroic epics and religious verse to homilies and historical chronicles. Texts such as extracts from Beowulf, The Wanderer, and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle are presented in their original language with extensive footnotes, glossary, and grammatical explanations. This makes the book an ideal teaching tool for students of philology, medieval literature, and early English history.

Each text is chosen to illustrate the linguistic and cultural development of Anglo-Saxon England. Onions’ revisions help bridge the gap between historical authenticity and modern comprehension, ensuring that the reader remains both rigorous and readable. In addition to linguistic instruction, the book also introduces readers to the literary aesthetics and themes prevalent during the Old English period—honor, exile, divine will, and the heroic code.

Whether used in the classroom or as a self-guided tool, Sweet’s Anglo-Saxon Reader is a classic academic resource that continues to shape the field of Old English studies. It not only equips students with essential language skills but also opens a window into the earliest literary expressions of the English-speaking world.

• A definitive resource for learning Old English language and literature.

• Originally compiled by Henry Sweet; extensively revised by C.T. Onions.

• Published by Oxford at the Clarendon Press in 1959.

• Features a rich selection of both Anglo-Saxon prose and poetry.

• Includes excerpts from key texts like Beowulf, The Seafarer, and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

• Comes with detailed grammatical notes and an extensive glossary.

• Widely used in university courses on Old English and medieval studies.

• Essential for philologists, linguists, historians, and literary scholars.

• Helps develop reading and translation skills in Anglo-Saxon.

• 312 pages of well-annotated, historically significant content.

• Category: Literature – especially relevant to medieval and linguistic studies.