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The Deorhord
- Author
- Hana Videen
- Narrator
- Isabel Adomakoh Young
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press
- Publish Date
- 20 February 2024
- Run Time
- 8 hours 40 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
From the author of
The
Wordhord:
Daily Life in Old English, an audiobook narrated by Isabel Adomakoh Young that takes you on an entertaining tour of Old English words for animals
Many of the animals we encounter in everyday life, from pets and farm animals to the wild creatures of field and forest, have remained the same since medieval times. But the words used to name and describe them have often changed beyond recognition, starting with the Old English word for "animal" itself,
deor (pronounced DAY-or). In
The Deorhord, Hana Videen presents a glittering Old English bestiary of animals real and imaginary, big and small, ordinary and extraordinary—the good, the bad, and the downright baffling.
From
gange-wæfran or walker-weavers (spiders) and
hasu-padan or grey-cloaked ones (eagles) to
heafdu swelce mona or moon-heads (historians still don't know!),
The Deorhord introduces a world both familiar and strange: where ants could be monsters and panthers could be your friend, where dog-headed men were as real as elephants, and where whales were as sneaky as wolves. The curious stories behind these words provide vivid insights into the language, literature, and lives of those who spoke Old English—the language of
Beowulf—more than a thousand years ago.
A delightful journey through the weird and wonderful world of Old English,
The Deorhord is a magical menagerie of new creatures and new words for the modern
englisc reader to discover.
Critics Review
-
"[A] whimsical book. . . . Come for the fascinating etymologies and stay for the repeated digs at Alexander the Great. The Deorhord has treasures aplenty for animal lovers and curious minds."—Foreword Reviews
Foreword Reviews
-
"In her second foray into the Old English lexicon and mindset . . . Hana Videen sets out to explore a world where animals hold sway. . . . Endlessly fascinating."—Simon Ings, The Spectator
The Spectator
-
"[The Deorhord] presents its readers with both a history of bestiaries and of the many interesting, useful, and sometimes mysterious words used to describe the animals recorded therein."—Johannes Riutta, The Well-read Naturalist
The Well-read Naturalist
-
"The Deorhord. . . is as fun as it is fascinating and deeply researched. . . . For lovers of language, animals, or history, Videen's Deorhord contains much that will charm and delight."—Katherine Howell, National Review
National Review
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Hana Videen
- Narrator
- Isabel Adomakoh Young
- Duration
- 8 hours 40 minutes
- Release Date
- 20 February 2024
- ISBN
- 9780691262888
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press
- Genre
- Language: history and general works, Historical and comparative linguistics
Synopsis
From the author of The Wordhord: Daily Life in Old English, an audiobook narrated by Isabel Adomakoh Young that takes you on an entertaining tour of Old English words for animals Many of the animals we encounter in everyday life, from pets and farm animals to the wild creatures of field and forest, have remained the same since medieval times. But the words used to name and describe them have often changed beyond recognition, starting with the Old English word for "animal" itself, deor (pronounced DAY-or). In The Deorhord, Hana Videen presents a glittering Old English bestiary of animals real and imaginary, big and small, ordinary and extraordinary—the good, the bad, and the downright baffling. From gange-wæfran or walker-weavers (spiders) and hasu-padan or grey-cloaked ones (eagles) to heafdu swelce mona or moon-heads (historians still don't know!), The Deorhord introduces a world both familiar and strange: where ants could be monsters and panthers could be your friend, where dog-headed men were as real as elephants, and where whales were as sneaky as wolves. The curious stories behind these words provide vivid insights into the language, literature, and lives of those who spoke Old English—the language of Beowulf—more than a thousand years ago. A delightful journey through the weird and wonderful world of Old English, The Deorhord is a magical menagerie of new creatures and new words for the modern englisc reader to discover.
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