For the first time textbooks and other educational writings published in England and America in the three centuries before the ?modern? phase of English teaching (about 1700 volumes in all) have been subject to a detailed and scholarly examination. Most of the American material will be new to readers outside the United States and much of it is little known there. The writings vividly demonstrate the development of English as a teaching subject: when its varied components were first taught, by what kinds of teachers, with what intentions and by what methods. Ian Michael has made a major...

For the first time textbooks and other educational writings published in England and America in the three centuries before the 'modern' phase of English teaching (about 1700 volumes in all) have been subject to a detailed and scholarly examination. Most of the American material will be new to readers outside the United States and much of it is little known there. The writings vividly demonstrate the development of English as a teaching subject: when its varied components were first taught, by what kinds of teachers, with what intentions and by what methods. Ian Michael has made a major...

First published in 1970, this book examines the traditional grammar, very briefly for its Greek and Latin origins, and fully during its first two hundred years as 'English' grammar. It asks when the application of Latin grammar to English was made; how far it was made knowingly; whether anyone protested that English needed a a grammar of its own. The two hundred and seventy-two English grammars known up to 1800 are studied. Dr Michael shows that the old grammatical tradition is much less unanimous and authoritative than is often supposed, and describes a previously unknown movement to reform...