The Old and Middle English (Classic Reprint)

Tlie Sources of Standard English. An exceedingly able book, containing clear views clearly expressed. It is just such a work as general readers have for several years been feeling the want of. Ample materials lay ready for the work, and they could not have found a better exponent than Mr. Oliphant. He hasproduced by far the best history of our language yet written. It is a model of well-digested scholarship. THE EXAMINER. In a popular but yet scholar-like way, Mr. Oliphant has traced the gradual change of our language from A nglo-S axon into modernE nglish; and has given an amusing account of Good and Bad English in 1873. EEPOKT OF THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY FOR 184. Mr. Oliphant has done good service in bringing together, and making easily accessible, much of this hitherto rare learning. Ten years ago, not a page of this book could have been written. THE NATION (N ew York). To read the sixth chapter is as healthful an exercise as to walk thirty miles as the crow flies. It is from first to last a most exciting raid against Dr. Johnson run mad. Mr. Oliphant has managed to put together a rare variety of monstrosities, slang, bombast, twaddle, and general absurdity, all illustrative of the style of speech and writing of this age. There is, withal, a series of spicy anecdotes arranged as illustrative foot-notes. These form an entertaining reading in their way as Dean Ramsay or Hislop. Taken, however, along with the text, they are specially effective. DUMBARTON HERALD. Mr. Oliphant has wrought out a good idea in a very able way. He is mercilessly severe on modern writers of gaudy English, and certain preachers, to whom he devotes a scarifying chapter. BRITISH QUARTERLY REVIEW.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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