Early Modern English

Barber provides the most throught study I have seen of this period. The book should be invaluable to any university with a strong program in English that includes teaching the history of the language. -- Catherine von Schon, SUNY at Stony Brook A handy introductory work for students of the English language, and suitable for class use in university departments of English. -- Matti Rissanen The author's own greatest contribution is undoubtedly to have put together an outline of thewhole period in all its aspects. -- Martyn Wakelin The only book-length study of its subject, Early Modern English fills a well-defined need, being more detailed than the general histories of the language can be, but comprehensive as the period studies of aspects the language are not. An eminently readable book. -- Manfred Gorlach, University of Cologne Barber provides the most throught study I have seen of this period. The book should be invaluable to any university with a strong program in English that includes teaching the history of the language. A handy introductory work for students of the English language, and suitable for class use in university departments of English. The author's own greatest contribution is undoubtedly to have put together an outline of thewhole period in all its aspects. The only book-length study of its subject, Early Modern English fills a well-defined need, being more detailed than the general histories of the language can be, but comprehensive as the period studies of aspects the language are not. An eminently readable book.

• Varieties of early modern English; attitudes to English; phonology; morphology; syntax; the expanding vocabulary; changes of meaning.