Crux and Controversy in Middle English Textual Criticism

Recent developments in literary theory have subjected traditionalnotions of the status of author, text and readers to intensive scrutiny.These concerns have major implications for scholars working on thetheory of editing texts, especially in considering the question ofwhich version of a text (if more than one survives) should be published,and how other versions, and other evidence, should be taken into account. The enterprise of editing Middle English texts - works produced before printing - raises and focuses these issues in an especially interesting form. In particular, controversy has raged about how best to resolve the textual problems presented by Piers Plowman and The Canterbury Tales. This volumeaddresses many of the issues which face the editors of Middle English texts today. Contributors: DEREK PEARSALL, T.W. MACHAN, NORMAN BLAKE, NICHOLAS JACOBS, S.S. HUSSEY, RALPH HANNA III, CHARLOTTE BREWER, ANNE HUDSON.