"The Longman Anthology of""Old English, Old Icelandic and Anglo-Norman Literatures" provides a scholarly and accessible introduction to the literature which was the inspiration for many of the heroes of modern popular culture, from "The Lord of the Rings" to "The Chronicles of Narnia," and which set the foundations of the English language and its literature as we know it today.

Edited, translated and annotated by the editors of "Beowulf and Other Stories, "the anthology introduces readers to the rich and varied literature of Britain, Scandinavia and France of the period in and around the Viking Age. Ranging from the Old English epic "Beowulf" through to the Anglo-Norman texts which heralded the transition to Middle English, thematically organised chapters present elegies, eulogies, laments and riddles, poems of devotion, sagas and histories, and romances. Works of the earliest English prose are followed by material on the Viking Wars in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," Vikings gods and Icelandic sagas, and a final chapter on early chivalry introduces the new themes and forms which led to Middle English literature, including Arthurian Romances and Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales."

Laying out in parallel text format selections from the most important Old English, Old Icelandic and Anglo-Norman works, this anthology presents translated and annotated texts with useful bibliographical references, prefaced by a headnote providing useful background and explanation.

Readers who would like a fuller range of literature from this period may consult the website, [...] for a list of further texts available for inclusion in a customised version of the volume.

Key features include: Readable parallel presentation of text and translation Fully annotated texts Bibliographical references Introductory headnotes to each text A fuller range of texts available for inclusion in a customised version of the anthology

Richard North teaches Old and Middle English at University College London, and is author of "Heathen Gods in Old English Literature" (1997) and "The Origins of 'Beowulf'" (2006).

Joe Allard teaches at the University of Essex. He translates and publishes contemporary Icelandic poetry and fiction, and has written extensively on medieval Icelandic prose and poetry.

Patricia Gilliesis a lecturer at the University of Essex with research interests in Medieval French, Old and Middle English Literature and Old Icelandic literature.