This volume investigates the linguistic evolution and literary development of the French language during the medieval period. Clifford William Aspland provides a structured pedagogical framework, utilizing a curated selection of primary source texts to illustrate the transition from Old French to Middle French. The work serves as a foundational resource for students and scholars seeking to analyze the grammatical, syntactical, and orthographic shifts inherent in the medieval vernacular.

Scholars and students of Romance philology frequently cite this work as a reliable, standard reference for navigating the complexities of medieval French texts. Experts highlight the clarity of the editorial notes, which effectively bridge the gap between modern linguistic understanding and the nuances of historical French dialects.