This anthology investigates the cultural, social, and literary landscape of Anglo-Saxon England through a curated collection of primary source documents. Kevin Crossley-Holland, a recognized scholar and translator of Old English, compiles a diverse array of texts including legal codes, personal letters, royal charters, and epic poetry. The framework of the book is designed to provide a comprehensive view of the period by allowing the Anglo-Saxons to speak through their own surviving records and creative works.

Scholars and students frequently cite this anthology as a standard introductory resource for accessing Old English literature in translation. Experts highlight the clarity of the translations and the breadth of the selection as particularly useful for those new to the field.