A reissue of the popular 1969 volume, this anthology covers a wide range of Middle English literature. Selections are numerous enough to allow professors great variation in the readings for individual courses. The supplementary references include comparative media, since literature forms only a part of the whole cultural context.

Ann Haskell has not altered the language into a common mold. She has, however, supplied punctuation, capitalization, and accent marks when necessary to aid in comprehension by the inexperienced reader.

In her book, Geneva Smitherman makes a substantial contribution to an understanding of Black English by setting it in the larger context of Black culture and life style. In addition to defining Black English, by its distinctive structure and special lexicon, Smitherman argues that the Black dialect is set apart from traditional English by a rhetorical style which reflects its African origins. Smitherman also tackles the issue of Black and White attitudes toward Black English, particularly as they affect educational policy.

Documenting her insights with quotes from notable Black...