This monumental work made the Arthurian cycle available for the first time in English. Malory took a body of legends from Celtic folklore that had been adapted into French literature, gave them an English perspective, and produced a work which ever since has had tremendous influence upon literature.The story begins with King Uther Pendragon’s use of enchantment to lay with Igraine, Duchess of Cornwall. Arthur is conceived and taken away in secret, returning as a young man to claim ...

Contents: 1. Prefaces and Epilogues, by William Caxton 2. Dedication Of The Institutes Of The Christian Religion, by John Calvin 3. Dedication of the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies, by Nicolaus Copernicus 4. Preface to The History of the Reformation In Scotland, by John Knox 5. Prefatory Letter to Sir Walter Raleigh On The Faerie Queene, by Edmund Spenser 6. Preface to the History of the World, by Sir Walter Raleigh 7. Proœmium of the Instauratio Magna, Epistle Dedicatory to the Instau...

'And soon after came to them an horrible fish, which followed the ship long time, casting so much water out of his mouth into the ship, that they supposed to have been drowned...'Saint Brendan sets off from Ireland with fourteen companions, and sees many strange sights in 'the great sea ocean, that compasseth all the world about'.The Langley Press edition is a modern-spelling version of William Caxton's translation of Brendan's story, taken from 'The Golden Legend', one of ...

"Game and Playe of the Chesse" is a notable work attributed to William Caxton, who is recognized for introducing the printing press to England. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to the game of chess, blending instruction with moral lessons. It draws from the earlier writings of Jacobus de Cessolis, who emphasized the strategic and philosophical aspects of chess. Caxton's adaptation not only popularized the game but also highlighted its significance as a tool for intellectual develo...

The work now for the first time reprinted from Caxton’s original edition has been preserved in three copies. One of these is in the Library of Ripon Cathedral, another in the Spencer Library, now at Manchester, and the third at Bamborough Castle. A small fragment, consisting of pp. 17-18 and 27-28, is in the Bodleian Library. The text of the present edition is taken from the Ripon copy. I have not had an opportunity of seeing this myself; but a type-written transcript was supplied to me by...

A Century of English Essays, as its title presages, captures the bustling evolution of the English essay form across several hundred years. This anthology curates an impressive array of perspectives, themes, and literary styles, encapsulating the intellectual zeitgeist of their respective eras. The collection navigates through humor, philosophy, criticism, and narrative with ease, juxtaposing luminary prose against pressing societal issues. Essays range from whimsical reflections on human ...

The anthology 'Game and Play of the Chesse' is an intriguing exploration into medieval allegory and its intersection with the cultural and literal complexities of chess. This collection, encompassing a diverse range of literary styles and voices, offers readers a profound thematic exploration of morality, strategy, and societal structure. The varied narratives within pay homage to the timeless game of chess, creating a rich tapestry that moves beyond mere gaming to reflect on life's multif...

In "Chronicle and Romance: Froissart, Malory, Holinshed," part of The Harvard Classics Series, readers are invited to explore the rich tapestry of narrative history and legendary storytelling from medieval to early modern Europe. This anthology juxtaposes the chronicles of Jean Froissart, Sir Thomas Malory, and Raphael Holinshed, each reflecting the complex socio-political landscapes of their times while also engaging with themes of chivalry, heroism, and national identity. The literary st...

The readers of the "Antiquary" will remember the anecdote told with so much effusion by Jonathan Oldbuck. '"Davy Wilson," he said, "commonly called Snuffy Davy, from his inveterate addiction to black rappee, was the very prince of scouts for searching blind alleys, cellars, and stalls, for rare volumes. He had the scent of a slow-hound, sir, and the snap of a bull-dog. He would detect you an old black-letter ballad among the leaves of a law-paper, and find an editio princeps under the mask...

This book is based on William Caxton’s translation of 15th century French author Raoul Lefèvre book Histoire de Jason (he wrote in 1460).The Histoire de Jason is known from 20 manuscripts and 30 different printed editions, and was translated in English in 1477 by William Caxton, and in Dutch in 1485. Lefèvre was the chaplain of Philip the Good, the creator of the Order of the Golden Fleece, which was based on the classical Jason story.

*** UNABRIDGED PREMIUM EDITION IN SEVEN VOLUMES ***AMONG the books which afford us an insight into he popular religious thought of the middle ages, none holds a more important place than the Legenda Aurea or Golden Legend. The book was compiled and put into form about the year 1275 by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, who laid under contribution for his purpose the Lives of the Fathers by S. Jerome, the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, and other books of...

Translated by William Claxton in 1483, The Golden Legend became one of the first books printed in English.Originally written in Latin by the Blessed Jacobus da Varagine, archbishop of Genoa, The Golden Legend was one of the most popular works of religious literature during the Middle Ages. Claxton's translation into English made the medieval work available for a wider audience. This abbreviated version details the lives of approximately two dozen Christian and Jewish saints from Bi...