Reviews for Imagining a Medieval English Nation, Vol. 37

The average rating for Imagining a Medieval English Nation, Vol. 37 based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-12-31 00:00:00 Jacqueline Sanders A variable tome that I picked up at Barter Books in Alnwick. As a portal into studies of mediaeval patriotism, the articles are uneven in tone and quality. The overall effect persuaded me that theory remains a poor explanatory device for understanding middle english texts. I am not sure that quoting Zizek or Foucault on chivalry brings additional insight to our historical understanding. The book purported to reveal that nationalism extended far beyond the modern origins favoured by 'Imagined Communities'. If so, the articles clearly showed such a community was referenced but the reader is left wondering what the community was: a united national endeavour or shattered perceptions divided amongst Lollards, courtiers, the peasantry, London and so on.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-06-02 00:00:00 Arion Nielsen I despise Propertius, finding him dull and difficult, but I adore Ovid's Heroides, which are included in this anthology, and also Catullus 64. The Tibullus is alright - his vocab isn't as tricky, and he's not as windy and horrible as Propertius. I know Propertius is an elegaic classic and blahblahblah, I just couldn't handle him. Give me Catullus or Ovid any time. Miller's notes are fairly helpful throughout, making the Latin less tricky and easier to plow through.