The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary by Hana Videen

The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary by Hana Videen

Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
Summary

Welcome to the strange and delightful world of Old English reference books of animals - the ordinary and the extraordinary, the good, the bad and the baffling...

The feel-good place to buy books
  • Free US shipping over $15
  • Buying preloved emits 41% less CO2 than new
  • Millions of affordable books
  • Give your books a new home - sell them back to us!

The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary by Hana Videen

Welcome to the strange and delightful world of Old English reference books of animals - the ordinary and the extraordinary, the good, the bad and the baffling...
This beautiful, fascinating book casts a warm light on the rich and tangled roots of the English language, and the human fascination with animals in the natural worldHana Videen's The Deorhord is a treasure trove. -- Caspar Henderson, author * The Book of Barely Imagined Beings *
For amateur etymologists, armchair philologists and compulsive readers of histories, The Deorhord will set hearts fizzing with joy. -- John Wright, author * The Forager's Calendar, The Naming of the Shrew *
A beautifully written reminder of the magical and the mystical - a glimpse back in time that uses extraordinary creatures to capture the reader's imagination. -- Rebecca Lee, author * How Words Get Good *
Immensely absorbing ... a wonderful window to see our familiar words and ideas in new ways that cover them in curious colours. -- Victoria Finlay, author * Colour: Travels Through The Paint Box *
A treasure trove that the lexicographer Susie Dent might be tempted to plunder * Country Life *
Videen is an excellent guide to lost lore ... her endlessly fascinating book is chock-full of archival detective stories * Spectator *
For lovers of words and animals alike, this is a book to be devoured with the voracity of the draca (dragon) * Times Literary Supplement *
A wonderful way into Old English, opening windows on a lost world that shaped ours and still lives within it. -- Ronald Wright, author * A Short History of Progress *
The Deorhord has treasures aplenty for animal lovers and curious minds. * Foreword Reviews *
Delightful * The Lady *
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. * National Review *
Absolutely captivating * Well-Read Naturalist *
An invaluable - and hugely entertaining - insight into the medieval imagination. The Deorhord illuminates the ways that language influences how animals have been conceptualised and discussed, and introduces a bit of magic to our own world by association. It is an absolute romp and a must-have for history and fantasy enthusiasts alike. -- Eleanor Janega author * The Once and Future Sex *
Praise for The Wordhord : A marvelous book -- Neil Gaiman
Wonderful -- Tom Holland
A lovely, lovely read -- Lucy Mangan
Splendid -- David Crystal
Eminently giftable -- James Marriott * The Times *
Entertaining and absolutely fascinating -- Paul Anthony Jones
Delightful ... a classy gift to the commonly word-drunk -- Steven Poole * Guardian *
A passionate medievalist and a relaxed, lucid writer; the pleasure she takes in her subject is infectious -- Henry Hitchings * Wall Street Journal *
A treasure trove ... and beautifully designed -- Marshall Julius
A lively linguistic history * BBC History Magazine *
Hana Videen has been hoarding Old English words since 2013, when she began tweeting one a day. Now over 28,000 people follow for these daily gems from her wordhord. Following her Old English doctorate at King's College London, she is now a writer and blogger in Canada, translating curiosities of history into engaging narratives. Find her on Twitter at @OEWordhord
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781800815797
ISBN 10 1800815794
Title The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary
Author Hana Videen
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher Profile Books Ltd
Year published 2023-11-02
Number of pages 352
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.