Thomas Hoccleve, The Series

Matthew Brown (Texas Woman's University)
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Scholars have given the title

The Series

to the last major work of Thomas Hoccleve, a fifteenth century civil servant, poet, and probable acquaintance of Chaucer. Composed in 1419-1421, it is a collection of poetry and prose, including several translations from Latin works, within a frame narrative describing the process of the work's own creation. The

Series

survives complete in six manuscripts, one of which is largely holograph: Durham, University Library MS Cosin V. iii. 9, ff. 3-95 (1422-26; holograph from “Dialogue” line 253). The other five manuscripts are: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS. Bodley 221, ff. 1-53v (c. 1450); Oxford, Bodleian Library MS. Laud misc. 735, ff. 1-52 (1450-75); Oxford, Bodleian Library MS. Arch. Selden supra 53, ff. 76-148 (c. 1430); New Haven, CT, Yale…

4651 words

Citation: Brown, Matthew. "The Series". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 March 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=25296, accessed 23 November 2024.]

25296 The Series 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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