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English language -- Early modern, 1500-1700 -- Glossaries, vocabularies, etc. Books
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Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 1 (of 3) Consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs and Other Pieces of Our Earlier Poets Together With Some Few of Later Date
"Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 1 (of 3)" by Percy and Wheatley is a collection of ballads published in 1765. Bishop Thomas Percy rescued ancient manuscripts from destruction and gathered traditional songs including "Sir Patrick Spens" and "The Ballad of Chevy Chase." Though Percy's editing methods drew criticism, his work captured public imagination and helped transform 18th-century literature from Neo-Classicism toward Romanticism. The collection inspired poets like Coleridge and Wordsworth, sparked folklore movements across Europe, and made ballad collecting a popular pursuit throughout the Western world.
Walter W. (Walter William) Skeat
A glossary of Tudor and Stuart words, especially from the dramatists
"A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, Especially from the Dramatists" by Walter W. Skeat is a scholarly reference work written in the early 20th century. This glossary is a compilation of rare and archaic words from the Tudor and Stuart eras, particularly those found in the works of prominent dramatists of the time. The focus of the book is on providing definitions, etymological insights, and references to literary contexts for these words, enhancing the understanding of the language used during this significant period in English literary history. The opening of the text includes an editor's preface that provides background on the creation of the glossary and the contributions of its original author, Walter W. Skeat. The preface recounts conversations between Skeat and the editor, A. L. Mayhew, about the need for a glossary that would assist readers in navigating the difficult vocabulary in early modern English plays. It touches upon the meticulous work Skeat had begun, noting words he compiled during his reading of various plays, and discusses the plans of Mayhew to finalize the glossary posthumously by restructuring and updating the original material while respecting Skeat's intentions. This introduction serves to establish the value of the glossary as a resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the complexities of Tudor and Stuart language.
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Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) Consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs and Other Pieces of Our Earlier Poets Together With Some Few of Later Date
"Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3)" by Percy and Wheatley is a collection of ballads published in 1765. This landmark anthology rescued forgotten English folk songs and popular ballads from obscurity, including tales of Robin Hood, border warfare, and legendary heroes. Bishop Thomas Percy gathered these works from a manuscript rescued from being used as fire kindling, broadside collections, and oral tradition. The collection helped transform eighteenth-century literature, inspiring Romantic poets like Coleridge and Wordsworth while sparking a passionate interest in folklore across Europe.
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Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 3 (of 3) Consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs and Other Pieces of Our Earlier Poets Together With Some Few of Later Date
"Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 3 (of 3)" by Percy and Wheatley is a ballad collection published in 1765. This groundbreaking anthology gathered 180 traditional ballads and songs from manuscripts and oral sources, including famous works like "Sir Patrick Spens" and Robin Hood tales. Bishop Thomas Percy's collection captured public imagination, inspiring Romantic poets like Coleridge and Wordsworth while helping shift literary taste from Neo-Classicism toward Romanticism. The work sparked a movement in folklore collecting across Europe and established the study of oral poetry as a serious pursuit.
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