The Aelfric Society (Ælfric Society) was a text publication society founded in London, England, and active from 1842 to 1856,[1] which published the Homilies of Ælfric of Eynsham (perhaps Archbishop of Canterbury, during 996–1006)[2] and other works by Anglo-Saxon writers. It is also known as Aelfric Society Publications.
The Ælfric Society was named in honor of Ælfric of Eynsham, a Benedictine monk who wrote a Saxon grammar and dictionary (glossary).[2] He had also translated a number of homilies and the Heptateuch into Old English. For the society, the Anglo-Saxon scholar Benjamin Thorpe (1782–1870) edited the homilies, during 1844–1846. Ælfric's Saxon grammar and glossary had been printed, nearly two hundred years earlier, at Oxford in 1639 and 1698.[2]
The Edinburgh branch of the society operated from 87 Princes Street and was run by T G Stevenson.[3]
Publications
editThe Aelfric Society published several works, including:
- The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church, containing Sermones Catholici or Homilies of Ælfric (2 volumes, 1844/1846)
- The Legend of Chrysanthus and Daria in Ælfric's Lives of Saints (1846)
- The Dialogue of Salomon and Saturnus (John M. Kemble, 1848)
- The Poetry of the Codex Vercellensis, with an English Translation (John M. Kemble, 1843, 212 pages)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Aelfric Society", Probert Encyclopedia, 2010, web: PE-Aelfric Archived October 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b c "Aelfric (c.955-1020)", Medievalchurch.org.uk, web: MC-Aelfric.
- ^ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1845