Overview

The Battle of Maldon is an Old English poem depicting a bloody skirmish along the banks of the tidal river Blackwater in 991 and poignantly conjures the lore and language of a nation with its collective back to the wall when faced by the depredations of a ruthless and relentless enemy. But, as Mark Atherton reveals, this poem is more than a heroic tale designed to inspire courage and valour: rather, it was a pioneering event which determined wider culture and polity in England. Using his own vivid translations from Old English, The Battle of Maldon: War and Peace in Tenth Century England evokes the chaotic ebb and flow of the battle while also placing Maldon in the context of its age. Seeking to reconstruct the culture and worldview of the original audience, Atherton examines how and why the poem encouraged readers to relive and experience the battle – from its brutal hand-to-hand fighting to the slaying of Byrthnoth – for themselves in order to impact the destiny of England. With this study, Mark Atherton provides the authoritative treatment of this iconic text, its history and its legacy. As such, this book will be a vital resource for all scholars of Old English literature, the Anglo-Saxons and early medieval history more generally.

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9781784537913

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Reviews

In this fascinating and highly readable book, Mark Atherton discusses 'The Battle of Maldon', one of the most famous of all poems to survive from early medieval England, providing an insightful analysis of its Old English text, and situating it in its proper late tenth-century historical and literary context. An extremely informative and engaging contribution. * David Woodman, Senior Tutor and Fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge, UK * A work of devoted scholarship and a treasure trove for research into the history and literature of the Anglo-Saxons, Atherton offers a model of how to read a single poem with reference to its exact language as well as to the fine grain of topography, social history, religious observance, and related matters from falconry to friendship. This book should be welcomed by students and specialists alike. * John D. Niles, Professor Emeritus of Humanities, University of Wisconsin Madison, USA * This book has transformed my understanding of a poem I've been teaching for years. It is essential new reading for specialists and students of Old English literature, yet it is also written to appeal to any reader with an interest in English history, language, and landscape. I'll be adding it to my syllabus and also recommending it to family and friends. * Hannah M. Bailey, Lecturer in English Literature and Language, University of Oxford, UK *

Author Information

Mark Atherton is Lecturer in English Language and Literature at Regent's Park College, University of Oxford, UK. He is the author of The Making of England (2017) and Teach Yourself Old English (2010).

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