The Old English Riddles of the 'Exeter Book
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Book Overview
The Exeter Book , a late tenth-century manuscript of early Old English poetry, is an anthology of religious homiletic verse, elegiac poetry, and ninety-one lyric riddles. The riddles are of particular interest to students of Old English poetry and Anglo-Saxon culture, to archeologists, anthropologists, and folklorists. This volume will supersede all earlier editions of the riddles as the text contains many new manuscript readings, and a summary is given of the scholarship on each riddle.Originally published in 1977.A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0807812722
ISBN13:9780807812723
Release Date:January 2011
Publisher:University of North Carolina Press
Length:504 Pages
Weight:2.00 lbs.
Dimensions:6.0" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
The Exeter Book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Great book, but I just wanted to clear up a few things that most people do not know. The Exeter Books riddles were never published with the answers. Thus, the answers in this book are not necessarily what the Anglo-Saxons intended, but just accepted answers. And depending on who in the scholarly world you talk to, the numbers of riddles, and the translation of those riddles is quite different.
Fascinating
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
I was enthralled with this book. I had never encountered Anglo-Saxon riddles before, and they're a delight - not your stupid Elephant riddles, but elegant poems, each one describing something in a teasing way.The book has the riddle on one page and the explanation on the next, so when I was reading them I used to make sure I didn't look ahead until I'd solved it. Sometimes I got it, sometimes I didn't. But it's more fun than a crossword puzzle. (And sometimes those ol'Anglo Saxons surprise you - wait till you get to the one about "I grow upright in a bed... hairs underneath..." I won't spoil it by telling you the answer!
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