An Introduction to English Runes
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Introduction to the use of runes as a practical script for a variety of purposes in Anglo-Saxon England.
Runes are quite frequently mentioned in modern writings, usually imprecisely as a source of mystic knowledge, power or insight. This book sets the record straight. It shows runes working as a practical script for a variety of purposes in early English times, among both indigenous Anglo-Saxons and incoming Vikings. In a scholarly yet readable way it examines the introduction of the runic alphabet (the futhorc) to England in the fifth and sixth centuries, the forms and values of its letters, and the ways in which it developed, up until its decline at the end of the Anglo-Saxon period. It discusses how runes were used for informal and day-to-day purposes, on formal monuments, as decorative letters in prestigious manuscripts, for owners’ or makers’ names on everyday objects, perhaps even in private letters.
For the first time, the book presents, together with earlier finds, the many runic objects discovered over the last twenty years, with a range of inscriptions on bone, metal and stone, even including tourists’ scratched signatures found on the pilgrimage routes through Italy. It gives an idea of the immense range of informationon language and social history contained in these unique documents.
The late R.I. PAGE was former Professor of Anglo-Saxon in the University of Cambridge.
Publisher : BOYE6; 2nd edition (May 18, 2006)
Language : English
Paperback : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 085115946X
ISBN-13 : 978-0851159461
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
10 reviews for An Introduction to English Runes
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Original price was: $36.95.$25.99Current price is: $25.99.
Christopher R. Travers –
a classic study
This work represents one of the most, perhaps even the most, important studies on English Runes available today. Page’s approach combines careful historical linguistic studies along with the archaeology of the material. While I think he habitually understates the use of the Runes in magical practices, his contributions are extremely important and not to be ignored.I highly recommend this work to anyone studying the Runes in any way.
Beast –
He commented that the book is from a reputable publisher and contains information that was fascinating and useful to his research on the English language
I purchased this book for my spouse, who is a medieval studies graduate student. He commented that the book is from a reputable publisher and contains information that was fascinating and useful to his research on the English language.
Ron Spolar –
Page is not easy reading
This author validates nearly everything he says. Clearly this world leading expert on runes considers their primarily use to have been as an alphabet. Page is very cautious concerning the magical use of runes but does define what evidence there is. Clearly he is not a fan of Thorsson and his opinion of Edred Thorsson is grim. This is a wake-up call for anyone who has read any of Flowers/Thorsson or other authors who dabble way too much in supposition. Runes were apparently carelessly scribed or carved in various ways; sloppy, upside-down, reversed, scrunched due to running out of space. There were regional differences in forms. Words were not always separated nor were sentences ended at the end of a word. Runes were scratched on small pieces of wood by husbands and wives communicating to one another; carved on monuments, walls, pottery, metal work; sometimes for decorative purposes only. They appear to have been a phonetic way for an illiterate society to communicate. This was a useful book to read but it is clearly an academic text book.
Linn –
Five Stars
Excellent book!
Meow I am a Cat –
A great start for anyone interested in English runes.
This is a smart, cautious, scholarly book, and a great start for anyone wanting to learn about English runes. My only complaint is that almost none of the book is devoted to discussing the actual sound values of the runes. For example, this book never mentions that a combination of the s-rune and c-rune can result in a modern “sh sound”. I have to give the book five stars, though, because relative to the other books on runes out there (which are filled with lies and New Age make-belief) this book is amazing.
Kennan –
Good scholarly material
Certainly this is a work of substance and authority; Page’s scholarship is not to be doubted. However, I found the sub-text of magical negation a little difficult, when the evidence seems overwhelming. Yet it is a powerful work, full of information and interpretations that I have found most useful for my fuller appreciation of the runes, and the English runes in particular.
S. Plowright –
Essential Reading
For anyone serious about studying runes, whether academic or esoteric. This one deals particularly with the English branch of the runic traditions. It contains historical facts about the runes as they were used by the Anglo-Saxons, along with many excellent examples of inscriptions reflecting their daily use.Unfortunately, Page’s books tend to be avoided by those interested in the esoteric side of the runes, merely because he does not subscribe to the more speculative theories of rune magic.This is a great shame, and would-be rune magicians do not do themselves any favours by shunning the painstaking research and detailed knowledge that Page has to offer. Surely, we are better off building on a sound footing of verified fact than starting off our studies from the shaky speculations of New-Age Gurus & cultists. Once you know the basic facts, speculate for yourself, you will then be just as qualified as any esoteric “authority” on runes.Page’s books should be an indispensable part of any serious runic library.SweynThe Rune Primer
Janie Iverson –
This book was not what I expected and didn’t give me what I hoped for
I wanted a book to give me a general introduction to runes: when did they originate, where were they used, the different types of runes that scholars have discovered, and whatever cultural purposes they were used for. I also wanted to avoid books that tell me how to use runes to tell fortunes or do magic. I wanted a scholarly introduction. In most ways, this was not that book. First, I did not realize that this book focuses on the Anglo Saxon runes used in England almost exclusively. So, a very large portion of the study of runes, that of the Scandinavian runes, are for the most part not addressed. And when they are addressed, it is in the briefest of ways. This becomes a problem because there are so few examples of Anglo Saxon runes. In addition, the examples of runes on coins, monuments, jewelry, weapons and so forth are often worn or damaged so badly that there is a lot of disagreement on what those runes are saying. Basically, this author did not have a lot of examples to work with to support his points. Second, although it is clear that the author is the most rigorous of scholars, he is not a good writer. It wasn’t until the last chapter that I finally realized what his purpose in writing the book was. He wanted to show how Anglo Saxon runes provide linguistic information on phonetic mutation and previously unknown case endings in Old English. But in spite of the problems, there were a few interesting sections, for example, he talked about a collection of riddles that were written in both roman and runes, but could not be deciphered without knowing runes and their names, which to my knowledge is a completely unique literary form. There was also a section on the many variations on runes that were apparently used as code for secret messages. I also enjoyed the discussion on why and how runes have been associated with magic and how those ideas may have come about. But in the end, this book did not give me enough of what interested me. I also want to add that the author did not do himself any favors with me when he insulted J.R.R. Tolkien by complaining about “the whimsical travesties of runes that appear in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.” Mr. Rice may have not have relished how Tolkien used runes in his books, but I do not appreciate him casting shade on a scholar and author that I respect a great deal.
Amazon Customer –
Academic study with excellent bibliography
Chris –
As described