he gives an enthusiastic account of the literature of one crucial half-century within this period./ One of the strengths of this book is the way in which literary works are discussed in relation to the manuscripts in which they are preserved. / At all times the author's exposition of the texts is lucid, and his illustrative quotations are well-chosen. Without qualification this book may be heartily recommended. - - A. A. MacDonald, Rijksuniversiteit, EnglishStudies, 79/5'a good discussion on the topic of medieval nationalism, well researched and written, valuable for literary scholars and linguists working in the field, as well as for general readers concerned with medieval studies'Fernando Galván, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, European Journal of English Studies, Volume 1, Number 1'This is an excellent book . The book is .

very wide-ranging, but the author's touch is consistently deft and assured . the book is remarkable for the novelty of its approach and for its refreshing presentation of its subject: it is delightfully readable and repeatedly illuminating . full of insights . one of the most important and revealing studies on medieval English literature to have been published in recent years: it deserves to be readwidely and should be consulted repeatedly.'John Frankis, Notes and Queries, June 1997'Turville-Petre has done historians a signal service in demonstrating the importance of types of evidence which are less familiar to many than Latin chronicles and government records.'Michael Prestwich, University of Durham, The Historical Association 1997'A readable book woth very few oversights of expression'Jesse M. Gellrich - Modern Philology.