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The Medieval Church · c. 990–995
The Catholic Homilies
Ælfric of Eynsham · c. 955–c. 1010
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What it is
Two series of sermons for the church year in clear rhythmic English, written because the author had seen much error in English books read by unlearned men.
Why it lasted
The finest prose in Old English and the most ambitious attempt anywhere in early medieval Europe to give lay people sound doctrine in their own language.
Where to read it
Public domain and free to read in full, though not held here. The archives below have it.
These open a search on each archive rather than a direct link, which is the honest way to point at an edition nobody here has checked line by line.
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