Media & Reviews

 

Stephen’s books and recordings have been used by other writers, by researchers, and by academics. Below is a selection of reactions to, and comments on, some of his work.

Woruldhoard

The academic Anglo-Saxon resource site noted Wayland’s Work under the rubric “Some sources for Visualizing Beowulf”, stating “heavily illustrated and with extensive useful commentary, this fine book offers the most definitive collection to date of the “artistic” artefacts of the period named.”
Woruldhoard

 

Tamworth Council

Tamworth Council commissioned Stephen to produce a local history book Tamworth Book to commemorate their hoisting of the Staffordshire Hoard in late summer 2011.
Tamworth Council Tamworth Book

 

Wiðowinde

“Our ancient burial mounds, of which the Sutton Hoo set are the most well-known, are a mysterious and intriguing feature of our landscape, whether they occur singly or in groups. Stephen Pollington has produced an excellent and detailed reference book about them.”
Wiðowinde

 

Minerva Magazine

The heading of Section IV, ‘Wondrous Works’, can well be applied as a description to this book – it is a wondrous work that will long be referred to as a ready source of information for the 300 years under consideration. Wayland’s Work does indeed fulfil its stated objective.
Minerva Magazine

 

Kevin Leahy

‘Drawing on British and European publications this important book [Wayland’s Work] brings together the evidence for Early Medieval material culture. Well written with excellent illustrations it should be read by everyone with a serious interest in this fascinating period.’

Dr Kevin Leahy, FSA, MIfA
National Adviser, Early Medieval Metalwork
The Portable Antiquities Scheme

 

Kevin Andrew

The best text I know that contains superb translations of Bald’s leechbooks, the Old English Herbarium, and the Lacnunga manuscript together with as much erudite detail about the Anglo-Saxon healing tradition as you would want in a lifetime is ‘Leechcraft’ by Stephen Pollington. In this book Stephen has truly given something to the nation.
Kevin Andrew

 

Time Team

A very refreshing, innovative and well-written piece of scholarship that illuminates a neglected period of English history.
Time Team

 

Twisted Tree Magazine

This book is thoroughly recommended not only for its main subject of early English charms, plantlore and healing, but as a fascinating addition to the shelves of plant lovers and anyone wishing to have a fascinating introduction to Anglo-Saxon history.

I can guarantee that once you have started reading this book, you will want to learn more.
Twisted Tree Magazine

 

Brian Bates

“Best and most easily available currently [translation of the Lacnunga manuscript] is by Stephen Pollington, in his book Leechcraft, published by Anglo-Saxon Books”
Way of Wyrd

 

Esoterik Book Review Interview

“Significantly [Leechcraft] also contains transcriptions of three of the most important Old English manuscripts related to magical practise: The Lacnunga (sometimes called the Spell Book), The Herbarium Manuscript, and Bald’s Leechbook. Again the author exceeds all expectations with his careful analysis and conclusions on various ingredients and methods, based on his knowledge and research into the subject.”

 

Galinngrund

“Stephen Pollington’s books are marked by a rare combination of engaging clarity and seriousness of purpose”
Mead Hall Steve Pollington

 

Heavenfield

“All three books I’d like to recommend here are by Stephen Pollington. He has written a whole series of books aimed at making Anglo-Saxon studies accessible to the average person.”
Heavenfield

 

Wychwood Warriors

“This is a great book, combining primary sources with archaeological finds to present a complete guide to the Anglo-Saxon warrior class.”
Wychwood Warriors

 

My Armoury Forum

“Great stuff from a writer that seems to me to have a passion and deep inner connection to the material covered, along with the academic ability to do solid research. I honestly can’t imagine anyone doing a better job on a book on this subject.”
My Armoury Forum

 

Alban Gautier

“Somme toute, l’étude de Stephen Pollington est un livre éminemment lisible, qui peut constituer une introduction à l’étude du sujet,”
Alban Gautier

 

Alexander M. Bruce, Florida Southern College

“Thanks to Pollington’s efforts, we need never see the mead-hall in fragments or shadows again; nor will we be able to consider it as having a secondary role, for Pollington has showed us that the mead-hall towers at the center of the culture, that “the window of the hall is a window into early English society”

 

Alicia Rodríguez Álvarez

University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

“Altogether, First Steps in Old English is good and comprehensive, and at the same time entertaining and user-friendly, a combination difficult to find in works of this sort. Indeed, there is no need to struggle on the way to enjoy Old English literature!

 

Guy Gavriel Kay

Bright Weavings

 

Octavia Porter-Randolph

Octavia

 

The Free Library

Pollington continues his long series of books on Anglo-Saxon life, language, and literature by focusing on high-status burials at the time when the heathen religion was most threatened by the march of Christianity
The Free Library

 

Spoken Word, Radio & Television

Stephen Pollington has not only recorded a double-CD of readings in old English, his voice has been used for a variety of Old English applications. He was chosen to provide the old English voice-over for the educational film in the visitor centre at Sutton Hoo.

Aside from occasional appearances on radio, Stephen has also been interviewed or provided input for a number of television productions, including ‘Michael Wood on Beowulf’, ‘Ridge Riders’, ‘Big Breakfast’, ‘War Walks’ and ‘Away with Words’. On the eve of the year 2000, Channel 4 in the Uk showed an hour-long docudrama, ‘1000 AD’, in which Stephen provided both the Old English script and language-coached the cast.

Future projects include contributions to an examination of the history of a single Midlands village, and a recording of the Old English poem ‘The Battle of Maldon’.

Stephen was interviewed for the BBC TV series ‘Story of England’, presented by Michael Wood, and provided the voice-overs for the Old English texts used in the programme.