Aelfric Society Explained

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]

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Publications

The 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

• Early English Text Society

Notes and References

1. "Aelfric Society", Probert Encyclopedia, 2010, web: PE-Aelfric .
2. "Aelfric (c.955-1020)", Medievalchurch.org.uk, web: MC-Aelfric.
3. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1845