Pearl (E.V. Gordon)

From Tolkien Gateway
The name Pearl refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Pearl (disambiguation).
Pearl
Pearl 1953.jpg
EditorE.V. Gordon
PublisherClarendon Press, Oxford
ReleasedJune 11, 1953
FormatHardcover; paperback
Pages186

Pearl is an edition of the Middle English manuscript Pearl, edited by E.V. Gordon. It was first published in 1953.

Originally Pearl was planned to be edited by E.V. Gordon and J.R.R. Tolkien, like they did with their previous work Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. But Tolkien couldn't give enough time to it, so Gordon continued the work alone. At his death in 1938 the work was almost complete, and his wife I.L. Gordon helped finish editing it and published it in 1953.

Nevertheless, Tolkien contributed notes and corrections to the book, and provided a part of the introduction ("Form and Purpose", pp. xi–xix). "Form and Purpose" was reprinted as part III of the Introduction to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo (pp. 18-23).

From the inside flap[edit | edit source]

This is a new edition of the fourteenth century alliterative poem Pearl, which, though generally regarded as one of the greatest of medieval poems, has suffered neglect of late years, since earlier editions have long been out of print. The text is more conservative than in earlier editions. The introduction includes an analysis of the form and purpose of the poem, a discussion of the doctrinal theme and the symbolism, and a survey of the dialect. There are explanatory notes, a glossary with etymologies, linguistic appendixes, and a selected bibliography. Emphasis throughout is on the poem itself: more general controversial topics, and speculations, are avoided.

Publication history and gallery[edit | edit source]

1953 first edition  
1966 first edition 4th impression  
1980 paperback edition  

External links[edit | edit source]


Books by E.V. Gordon
Co-edited with J.R.R. Tolkien Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
With Tolkien's involvement Published during his lifetime An Introduction to Old Norse ·
The Battle of Maldon
Published posthumously Pearl · The Seafarer