Norton Anthology
I am reading through the six volumes that make up the Norton Anthology of English Literature (Tenth Edition). Listed next to each volume are what I felt to be its highlights.
Volume 1: The Middle Ages Highlights: Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney Comment. Ancrene Wisse This was excellent. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by Simon Armitage A perfectly structured narrative poem, excellently translated. Marie de France, translated by Dorothy Gilbert Uploaded to YouTube 2022/11/25 The selection presented was so enjoyable that I got hold of Gilbert's book, Marie de France, and read all twelve. Video here: LINK Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales Magnificent. The tales included are: LIST Thomas Hoccleve, The Complaint Comment. William Langland, The Vision of Piers Plowman This was magnificent, a dizzyingly complex allegory. Sir Thomas Malory, Morte D'Arthur Comment. Robert Henryson, The Cock and the Jasper Fable with a very surprising twist. Translated by Seamus Heaney.
Volume 2: The Sixteenth and Early Seventeenth Century Richard Hooker Probably the most surprising find, a supreme prose stylist. William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (full play) A very amusing comedy. Source of the quote: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."