Piers Plowman

A Modern Verse Translation

William Langland author William Langland translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:McFarland & Co Inc

Published:20th Oct '14

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Piers Plowman cover

William Langland's 14th-century poem Piers Plowman, a disturbing and often humorous commentary on corruption and greed, remains meaningful today. The allegorical work revolves around the narrator's quest to live a good life, and takes the form of a series of dreams in which Piers, the honest plowman, appears in various guises. Characters such as Conscience, Fidelity and Charity, alongside Falsehood and Guile, are instantly recognizable as our present-day politicians and celebrities, friends and neighbors. Social issues are confronted, including governance, economic relations, criminal justice, marital relations and the limits of academic learning, as well as religious belief and the natural world.

This new verse translation from the Middle English preserves the energy, imagery and intent of the original, and retains its alliterative style.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

“Sutton’s translation succeeds as a readable, rhythmic representation of the original...recommended”—Choice.

ISBN: 9780786495030

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 14mm

Weight: 367g

272 pages