This is a scholarly exploration of how writing and speaking intersected in early medieval England, especially in runic inscriptions and Old English verse.
Published as Volume 445 in the Medieval and Renaissance Texts and Studies series, the book argues that Anglo-Saxon literacy was shaped by the interplay between oral tradition and written texts, viewing inscriptions not just as static records but as communicative acts embedded in social contexts.
Orton draws connections between runic and roman-letter inscriptions and poetic works such as the Dream of the Rood and various Old English riddles, suggesting a continuity in how language was used to engage audiences across media.
While its discussions of inscriptions and literacy theory have been critiqued as not fully up-to-date, the analysis of poetic texts is widely regarded as insightful and thought-provoking, illuminating how Old English poetry reflects a literate culture still deeply rooted in oral practices.
