Introduction to Medieval English Literature

Anna Baldwin lectured in English Literature at the University of York, UK, where she specialised in Middle English. She has also worked as a tutor for Cambridge University and taught at Hills Road Sixth Form College.

'Informed, insightful and important. Anna Baldwin matches groupings of key texts to a vivid account of the changing structure of medieval society, bringing the literature of medieval England alive for the reader in the context of major social forces and political events throughout a tumultuous yet brilliant period of writing in English.' - Barry Windeatt, University of Cambridge, UK 'Teachers of Middle English Literature need think no further about which book to use to introduce the entire field, from top to bottom and start to finish. This is it. Anna Baldwin compacts massive learning and trenchant, no-nonsense judgement into a wonderful, clear, well organized compendium.' - James Simpson, Harvard University, USA 'This book covers a wide range of material, from the popular Chaucer and Malory to less-studied texts such as Piers Plowman and the Langland tradition. The twinning of these texts is enterprising and thought-provoking.' - Helen Phillips, Cardiff University, UK 'Anna's book is the perfect introduction - well-researched, highly readable, full of original passages from a whole range of medieval poems, plays and pamphlets, and complete with mini-biographies of many of the major literary figures of the time. The perfect starting-point, in fact, from which to find out more about this extraordinary time in our history...' - Stephen Lewis, The Press

• Introduction1. The Poor Commons: literature and social change2. The Poor Commons: education and dissent3. The Urban Middle Class: Satire, Debate and Political Advice4. The Urban Middle Class: Tales of Women and Marriage5. The community of the Church: religious lyrics and the English mystics6. Religious and Moral Stories7. Aristocratic Love8. Chivalric RomancesFurther Reading.