Splendid ... It is the perfect way to be introduced to Old English. There is insight on every page, in a beautifully clear and down to-earth style, with lovely humorous asides. -- David Crystal

A wonderful book heaving with linguistic treasure, a joyfully clever exploration of early medieval life. -- Edward Brooke-Hitching author - The Madman's Library

A rich meditation on words, a thoughtful cultural history and a delicious box of delights to dip into during stolen moments. I loved this book-and learnt more from it than from any number of solemn language primers. Hana Videen has created a marvel. -- Nicola Griffith, author of 'Hild'

A lively linguistic history - BBC History Magazine

Brilliant. So rich with detail. If you're at all interested in Old English you'll love it.

-- History Today - Kate Wiles, senior editor

A lovely, lovely read ... written with such love and care and accessibility to the lay person that you can feel it just doing you good - feeding your soul and your brain at the same time. - Lucy Mangan

Thorough, entertaining, and absolutely fascinating. If you're interested in Old English (and for that matter, even if you're not!) it's an absolute treat. -- Paul Anthony Jones - Haggard Hawks

A wonderful book that blends linguistics with a survey of everyday life in early Medieval England. If you want to know why music was known as dream-craeft, what was meant by sawel-dreor - 'soul blood' - or the origins of our days of the week, then this is for you. It constitutes a veritable leornung-hus, or 'learning house'' -- Tom Holland - BBC History Magazine

Delightful ... [Videen's] etymological journeys [are] full of satisfying twists ... the book is released in time for Christmas wassailing, and would make a classy gift to the commonly word-drunk ... it's a pleasure just to be reminded of [early Medieval people's] world-craft. -- Steven Poole - Guardian

Eminently giftable ... A book to be dipped in and out of for the riddles and enjoyable factoids -- James Marriott - The Times

A treasure trove of forgotten words, their meanings and origins, written with insight and humour, and beautifully designed -- Marshall Julius

[An] entertaining linguistic history...Well researched and cannily written, this smart survey makes the old feel new. - Publishers Weekly

Engaging, conversational, humorous, and full of surprising revelations - Library Journal

Hana Videen is one of a rare and treasurable breed of enthusiasts . . . both a passionate medievalist and a relaxed, lucid writer; the pleasure she takes in her subject is infectious. -- Henry Hitchings - Wall Street Journal

Remarkable ... Videen beautifully captures the everyday life of Old English speakers through their practical, everyday terms. - The American Conservative

Delightful ... It unlocks the 1000-yearold treasure trove of Old English words that inflect our language and understanding of the world. - Sydney Morning Herald

An entertaining and illuminating collection of weird, wonderful and downright baffling words from the origins of English