Showing results for "Anonymous" in Literary History & Criticism

The Exeter Book (Codex Exoniensis). This book was presented to his Cathedral by Leofric, the first Bishop of Exeter, about the middle of the 11th century. It is preserved in the Cathedral Library at Exeter; the first leaves are missing, and the last leaves are injured; the handwriting of the MS belongs probably to the first half of the 11th century.In the catalogue of Leofric’s donations to his cathedral, this volume is entered as 'one great English book on various subjects, composed in verse'.The Exeter Book is the largest extant manuscript of Old English literature and containing ...

This poignant account details the experiences of a dedicated nurse who found herself in France at the outbreak of World War I, serving until May 1915. The narrative, pieced together from her letters home, paints a vivid and at times harrowing picture of the casualties of war during that period. Initially based at the General Hospital in Le Havre, she soon found herself as one of the few sisters working on ambulance trains, ferrying the wounded from front-line Clearing Hospitals to the larger General Hospitals in Boulogne and Le Havre. Toward the end of her tale, she recounts her time at a ...

This is a collection of stories collected over thousands of years by various authors, translators and scholars. The are an amalgam of mythology and folk tales from the Indian sub-continent, Persia, and Arabia. No original manuscript has ever been found for the collection, but several versions date the collection's genesis to somewhere between AD 800-900. The stories are wound together under the device of a long series of cliff-hangers told by Shahrazad to her husband Shahryar, to prevent him from executing her. Many tales that have become independently famous come from the Book, among them Ali...

Sample a moment of magic realism from the Red Book of Hergest:On one side of the river he saw a flock of white sheep, and on the other a flock of black sheep. And whenever one of the white sheep bleated, one of the black sheep would cross over, and become white; and when one of the black sheep bleated, one of the white sheep would cross over, and become black.Before passing on to the Mabinogion proper, Lady Charlotte Guest devotes Volume I of her compilation of medieval Welsh tales to three brief romances of Arthur’s Court. The centrepiece is the story of Peredur, the Dumb Youth – known ...

A delightful children's tale of a tame robin, "supposed to be written by himself" about his domestic life with humans. - Summary by TR Love

The oldest long poem in Old English, written about AD 1,000, Beowulf tells the story of a great warrior of southern Scandinavia, in both youth and maturity. The monster Grendel terrorizes the Scyldings of Hrothgar's Danish Kingdom until Beowulf defeats him. As a result, he has to face her enraged mother. Beowulf dies after a battle against a fierce dragon.

Follow the Manchester Evening News 'special correspondent' and his guide - recently back from a 'seven stretch' - as they take you on a tour through the dimly lit quarters of late 19th-century criminal Manchester.- Summary by Phil Benson

Step into a realm of enchanting magic realism with a moment from the Red Book of Hergest On one bank of the river, a flock of white sheep grazes, while on the opposite bank, a flock of black sheep watches. With each bleat from the white sheep, a black sheep crosses over to become white, and with every call from the black sheep, a white one transforms into black. Before delving into the heart of the Mabinogion, Lady Charlotte Guest introduces Volume I of her collection with three captivating romances from Arthur’s Court. At its core lies the tale of Peredur, the Dumb Youth – known by many ...

In 1864, a groundbreaking collection of stories introduced the world to one of the first-ever female detectives. Written by Andrew Forrester, this intriguing book presents itself as the memoirs of an anonymous detective who shares her experiences in a male-dominated field. With a bold voice, she asks, "Who am I?" and challenges the stereotypes of her profession. This unique perspective sheds light on the challenges and triumphs she faces while solving crimes. Each story reveals her keen intuition and sharp wit, making readers rethink the role of women in detective work. Forrester's clever ...

This book is a collection of short stories and poems for children to enjoy at bedtime. - Summary by SaraHale

A collection of short stories for boys and girls that spark the imagination and teach life lessons. (summary by Ladeebug)

The title of this work sufficiently indicates the nature of its contents. The Usages of Good Society relate not only to good manners and to good breeding, but also to the proper etiquette to be observed on every occasion. (From "Introductory Remarks") Note: The abbreviation viz. (or viz without a full stop) is short for the Latin videlicet, which itself is a contraction of the Latin phrase videre licet, meaning "it is permitted to see". (Wikipedia)

Beowulf by Anonymous. Beowulf is an Old English poem, an epic in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines, contained in the Nowell Codex. It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating is for the manuscript, which was produced between AD 975 and 1025. Scholars call the anonymous author the "Beowulf poet". The story is set in pagan Scandinavia in the 5th and 6th centuries. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of ...

The 13th century Icelandic Völsungasaga is usually read by people studying the Poetic Edda or Wagner's Ring - which obscures the fact it is a much better story than practically everything derived from it. A riddle-telling dragon, a broken sword, a hooded mysterious wanderer - cannibalism, incest, mutilation, and sensitive hearts. This is R-rated Tolkien - and the unashamedly archaic Magnússon-Morris translation is up for the adventure. Passages spoken in Old Norse are taken from the edition of Sophus Bugge, Berlin, 1891. (Summary by Corpang)

The author of this 1917 narrative, who escaped from Germany and military service after 14 months of fighting in France, did not wish to have his name made public, fearing reprisals against his relatives. The vivid description of the life of a common German soldier during “The Great War” aroused much interest when it was published in the United States in serial form. Here was a warrior against his will, a hater of militarism for whom there was no romance in war, but only butchery and brutality, grime and vermin, inhuman toil and degradation. His story also contains the first German ...

This is a short book of Bible Stories for Children. - Summary by Kenneth Coon

The book of luck or, a guide to your success, fortune, future, palmistry, astrology, etc . is an engrossing compendium of legends, myths and scientific or pseudo-scientific facts that might help you know the "unknowable" - your future fate and fortune. The best of luck to you, listener! - Summary by Brian Fullen

This is a cute little volume of poems for children. Listeners may wish to refer to the text to see the pretty illustrations. - Summary by Carolin

A heartwarming collection of nursery rhymes that will take you back to your childhood! (Summary by Allyson Hester)

William Shakespeare had nothing to do with the actor and moneylender William Shaksper from Stratford-upon-Avon. The man behind the nom de plume "William Shakespeare" was, in fact, a very well-educated aristocrat who often frequented the court of Elizabeth and whose real name was Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. The dramas of Shakespeare were not written for the Globe Theatre but for the Queen's court.