A History of the English Language

“Without doubt, the best short introduction to the history of English: lucid, clearly exemplified, theoretically sophisticated but subdued. A delightful textbook in every way.”

“This textbook is a very fine, clearly presented, and well organized introduction to the history of the English language. It includes, perhaps, the finest collection of authentic texts located at the end of each chapter of any textbook available. The exercises that follow each chapter are a useful way for students to review the main points covered in each chapter, and the step-by-step guide to using the electronic version of the OED at the end of the book is a useful inclusion in a textbook of this sort. The tables and figures, examples and analyses presented in each chapter provide additional resources for students in their studies.This textbook is a worthy addition to an already fine group of textbooks on the history of English. The book is well written and surprisingly accessible to the reader, and the author does a fine job of presenting the complexities of the subject in a student-friendly way. I can enthusiastically recommend it for undergraduate courses in the history of the English language.”