R. W. Chambers (1874–1942)

This book is a great introduction to not only the language and text of Widsith, but also to its story, and the stories that led to its development. While a lot of additional scholarship has been done in the last century, Chambers' presentation still does a great job of providing a readable, consolidated view of those who studied the poem before him, with plenty of notes, references and other details available for those who want to dive in deeper.

My favorite part of the book is the chapters on "Stories Known to Widsith," in which Chambers elucidates the myths, legends and historical accounts that the writer(s)/compiler(s)/copyist(s) (and contemporary hearers/readers) of Widsith likely would have been familiar with. Given the amount of name dropping that goes on in Widsith's "catalogs," Chambers' work is much appreciated, both for helping to understand the flow of the poem itself and for providing context as to why the names mentioned were important.

This book is likely to please anyone interested in either the Anglo-Saxon/Old English language or the ancient stories told by the people who spoke it. If you happen to be interest in both, as I am, then double the pleasure.… (more)