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Miscellaneous Who's Afraid of Middle English?: A Booke of Lystes by Dolores L. Cullen $10.95 / Fithian Press / 2002 The title of this brief but entertaining tome succinctly describes its contents, the entirety of which consists of a series of lists, phrases, famous quotations, and names, all transcribed into Middle English. Through these lists, Dolores Cullen endeavors to show her readers that the Middle English used by writers such as Chaucer was really not that much different from our modern-day version of the language, and that readers should not be intimidated by the prospect of reading classic works, such as the Canterbury Tales. Who's Afraid of Middle English also provides transcriptions, such as "Modre She Wrot", "Buffy, the Blod-Sokor Slaer", and-of all things-"Divorce Court." I did wonder, however, whether reading works actually written during Chaucer's time would be as easy to read as the phrases presented in Cullen's list, most of which were familiar or easily recognizable. Yet the real purpose of this book seems unclear. Is Cullen enticing her readers to check out Chaucer's works by demonstrating the relative ease with which Middle English can be read or is she merely providing an entertaining day's read? Who's Afraid of Middle English may best be used as a resource for writers of historical fiction, who can adapt the place names and other phrases to create more authentic-sounding settings and conversations for their stories. Re-enactors may also be able to apply the pronunciation of the words in the lists when in character. For those two groups, Cullen's inexpensive book is a good investment. —Lise Hull

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