Old High German Poetry: An Anthology

“Brian Murdoch is the rare combination of a leading medievalist and gifted translator. This brilliant volume is a joy to read and a much-needed resource for teaching.” “A treasure-hoard of extraordinary poems…Each poetic gem sparkles under Brian Murdoch’s touch as he applies his unparalleled erudition to every facet.” “Concise, engaging introductions contextualize the material effectively, while sensitive translations preserve as much as possible of the original verse form.” “With this comprehensive anthology of texts and translations, Brian Murdoch has done a great service for students and teachers of all medieval Germanic languages.” This anthology offers parallel texts and translations of the poetic material that survives in Old High German, the earliest stage of the German language, from roughly 800 to about 1050. The translations keep as close to the originals as possible, while giving at the same time some indication of the poetic form. The works included are rich and varied, ranging from heroic lays to charms and blessings to historical poetry and hagiography.