<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: One of the greatest books ever
Review: Although his poem features some difficult language and occasionally awkward organization, William Langland shows keen insight into the human condition in Piers Plowman. No single poem has shown me such a clear picture of what it really means to be human--it should replace Paradise Lost as the official epic of the English language.
Rating: 
Summary: For those who can read Middle English only!
Review: I remember having to recite the prologue of the Canturbury Tales in Middle English in high school but this is a couple hundred pages. I have read some 'Middle English' books where it wasn't difficult to understand at all, only the spelling was slightly off. THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE!For example: But of coket or clermatyn or ellis of clene whete That sentence is translated as follows:
But only loaves made of fine wheat flour, or at least only out of wheat unmixed. There is a lot of latin thrown in as well, so if you are a curious reader who has no background in germanistics or medieval literature, this might not be the book for you. You will probably understand 60-70 percent of what is going on, but a modern English translation might be better. The story itself is awesome and far superior to Pilgrim's Progress. Like that story, the narrator has a vision and encounters various aspects of human nature in his quest for salvation. The characters are more complex than in Pilgrim's Progress and you have a beautiful tale of a man trying to adhere to his Christian faith amidst clerical and secular corruption.
Highly recommended.
<< 1 >>
| 
