This book provides an introduction to nineteenth-century English in England. It examines a wide range of varieties, including political speeches, newspaper articles, advertisements, obituaries, Sunday School poetry, and culinary recipes, so as to illustrate the range of dialects and levels found in the language of that period. The first part of the book provides an overview of the subject, while the second part contains an extensive selection of texts. 100 exercises spread throughout the book serve to introduce the student to the problems and methods involved in English historical linguistics.