Old English Enigmatic Poems and the Play of the Texts. By John D. Niles. Studies in the Early Middle Ages, 13. Turnhout: Brepols, 2006. Pp. xvi + 332; 8 illustrations. $100.

Reading John Niles' book reminds me of a conversation I once had with my dissertation supervisor, who said, "It's all a game—but one can play it well." Being an earnest young person, I was rather shocked, because I didn't believe it was all a game. Nor do I now. But I have come to realize literary scholarship is indeed to a large extent a game, which some people play better than others—and which Niles plays particularly well.

Anne L. Klinck
University of New Brunswick