Margaret Anne Williams (1902–1996)

Sr. Margaret Williams was a treasure. She wrote three books on literature that I'm aware of: her commentary on and translation of The Pearl Poet (which moved into my all-time top-ten after a recent rereading), and two books that trace English literature to the Norman invasion (Word Hoard) and then through Middle English (Glee-Wood). In Word Hoard, she offers a generous selection of Anglo-Saxon poetry and prose, all in her superb translations, which I consider among the best for these works. The translations are laced together into a narrative of the history and development of Old English and the Anglo-Saxons written in her bright, often witty, prose. Sr. Williams should not be forgotten. All three of her literary works are obscure, but can be found (with some searching) on Amazon. You cannot encounter her without coming away with a deeper love for this tremendous body of literature.

Bonus: she mentions some guy named "Professor Tolkien," including a quote from a lecture that I believe is unpublished. (Given the manner of attribution, she probably heard it in person.)

Published by Catholic publisher Sheed and Ward in 1940. (c. 400 pages plus appendices).… (mer)