Congratulations to Professor Rachel Burns whose book A History of Old English Verse Layout: Poetics on the Page (ARC, 2024) was awarded the ISSEME (International Society for the Study of Early Medieval England) Best First Monograph Prize at this year’s conference in Düsseldorf.
The ISSEME jury said:
The sober title of this excellent first monograph somewhat disguises the innovative research it presents. The book stands out for its novel take on what for some is a given in the discussion of Old English verse: the idea that it was written as if it were prose. Instead, Burns is convinced that "[...] the format in which Old English verse survives is that to which scribes felt the poetry was best suited." She proves her point in a clearly-structured study which uses a wealth of useful details and examples, making this accessible to scholars at all stages. Most importantly, this monograph highlights how the manuscript evidence has been neglected in favour of a narrative that justified presenting Old English poetry in the way a modern reader expects poetry to be presented. Generations of first year students have been told that Old English poetry is written as prose and perpetuated this flawed perception. Burns' important study has the potential to fundamentally change how we think about Old English verse layout.
Find out more about the prize on the ISSEME website.
Find out more about A History of Old English Verse Layout: Poetics on the Page on the publisher's website.
