Pamela Gradon was a distinguished English scholar. She was a Fellow and Tutor at St Hugh’s between 1963 and 1982, following which she was elected to Emeritus Fellow.

Reviews of the first publication:‘…every reader of medieval English literature will learn a great deal from every reading, and as he marvels at the range of the author’s learning in many languages, his own understanding is improved…Dr Gradon is very successful in her main aim, explaining some of the fundamental differences, both general and particular, between medieval and modern literature, leading to a better understanding of what medieval literature is about.’— E.G. Stanley, The Yearbook of English Studies‘…there are many good things in this book: technique is an aspect of literature too much neglected by the critics, and Dr Gradon’s considerable erudition throws light into many dark corners of Old and Middle English literature.’— A.J. Bliss, Review of English Studies

• Preface Introduction: The Chequered Sky 1. The Allegorical Picture 2. Literary Structures 3. Daughters of Earth 4. The Romance Mode 5. Medieval Realism 6. Mannerism and Renaissance Conclusion