See also the home page of the Legenda book series Studies In Linguistics

Multilingualism in Italy Past and Present
Edited by Anna Laura Lepschy and Arturo Tosi
Studies In Linguistics 11 November 2002

  • ‘A wide-ranging but coherent discussion of some central questions regarding the formation and present state of the Italian language itself, its varieties and its relationship with dialects. This important book contains twelve essays, ranging chronologically from Renaissance elites to the European Union.’ — unsigned notice, Forum for Modern Language Studies XL.1, 2004, 113
  • ‘Clear and instructive, suitable both for scholars looking for some of the latest research in Italian linguistics, and for a more general readership interested in exploring some of the central questions in the history and development of the Italian language, a topic of enduring interest and endless fascination. Particularly rewarding are the sections devoted to Italian dialects, often left by the wayside in general discussions of the Italian language.’ — Luigi Bonaffini, Forum Italicum 37/2, Fall 2003, 582-4
  • ‘Offers a stimulating reading on central questions in Italian linguistics ... For the range of topics examined and the accessibility of the contributions, this volume will be a useful tool for students, teachers, and researchers, and in general for everyone interested in the Italian language, while exemplifying the liveliness and high level of research in the field of Italian linguistics in the UK.’ — Helena Sanson, Modern Language Review 100.1, 2005, 228-9 (full text online)
  • ‘There can be no doubt that the majority of these papers will indeed be understood by the non-expert. Their authors manage to explain notions, situations, and developments, some of them obviously complex, with a simplicity and clarity which will be satisfying and illuminating to those with a non-specialist interest. But they do not fail either to bring in new ideas and research which offer food for thought to specialists in Italian linguistics and linguistics history.’ — Howard Moss, Italian Studies Volume LIX, 2004, 192-4

Rethinking Languages in Contact: The Case of Italian
Edited by Anna Laura Lepschy and Arturo Tosi
Studies In Linguistics 217 January 2006

Redefining Regional French: Koinéization and Dialect Levelling in Northern France
David Hornsby
Studies In Linguistics 324 May 2006

  • ‘A worthy contribution to the field of sociolinguistic enquiry, and a welcome reminder of the importance in recording social history of dialect studies such as this.’ — Ken George, French Studies 62.4, 2008, 518-19
  • ‘This stimulating book is written with commendable clarity and succinctness, making the more general sections in particular both extremely useful and highly accessible to undergraduate students. Legenda, the publishers, are also to be commended for their usual attractive presentation.’ — Tim Pooley, Zeitschrift für französische Sprache und Literatur 119.1, 2009, 82-83

The French Language and Questions of Identity
Edited by Wendy Ayres-Bennett and Mari C. Jones
Studies In Linguistics 45 July 2007

  • ‘All in all, this volume is a stimulating contribution to the sociolinguistics of French.’ — Aidan Coveney, Modern Language Review 104.3, 2009, 855-56 (full text online)
  • ‘All of these excellent articled examine important aspects of identity. However [...] only the hexagon is explored in detail.’ — Helene Ossipov, French Review 82.3, 2009, 678-79
  • ‘En conclusion, on devra tout d'abord admirer les efforts des éditeurs pour intégrer en quatre parties ces dix-sept articles sensiblement variés... Le présent volume en est d'autant plus précieux.’ — Yuji Kawaguchi, Zeitschrift für französische Sprache und Literatur 118.3, 2008, 267-69
  • ‘This is an exciting book because it looks at various sociolinguistic problems from an unusual angle: instead of explaining them in terms of social and demographic factors, the aim is to study the attitudes they evoke... Altogether a delightful book, full of fascinating information and new insights, presented in a highly readable form.’ — Anne Judge, French Language Studies 19, 2009, 135-50
  • ‘This well-produced hardback presents 19 chapters written by scholars from a variety of backgrounds around the theme of the title... very enjoyable and very readable.’ — Richard Towell, French Studies 63.1, 2009, 125-26
  • ‘Der sorgfältig redigierte Sammelband behandelt facettenreich die aktuellen Probleme der sprachlich-kulturellen Identifikation an überzeugenden Beispielen und macht verständlich, warum in Frankreich, wo er Staat für die Nationalsprache verantwortlich zu machen ist, vieles sich anders darstellt als in den übrigen mittel- und westeuropäischen Staaten.’ — Christian Schmitt, Zeitschrift für romanische Philologie 125.4 (2009), 638-44

A New History of English Metre
Martin J. Duffell
Studies In Linguistics 53 October 2008

  • ‘The strengths of the book are its specificity, comprehensiveness, and clarity, which make it an immensely valuable resource to scholars. Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduates through faculty.’ — A. E. McKim, Choice 47.1, September 2009, 49
  • ‘Readers of this closely written study will hence gain many insights, as when the author points out that Yeats, though a ‘modern’, was no more innovative in prosody than the laureate Bridges; or the limited stock of Housman’s verse types; or ways in which Larkin, conservative in verse forms (as in politics), was yet inventive in his use of them; or how Kipling ‘employed a vast array of different metres with consummate skill’. Martin Duffell has, then, produced a serious and weighty book.’ — Andrew Breeze, Modern Language Review 105.2, 2010, 548-48 (full text online)
  • ‘Duffell analyses metre from a linguistic and cognitive-scientific point of view, suggesting that metre proceeds from universal human requirements for both stability and surprise, and combines the techniques of both statistical and generative metrists in his analyses... Undoubtedly a book of great value for students of verse language.’ — unsigned notice, Forum for Modern Language Studies 47.1, January 2011
  • ‘Ayant à enseigner les rudiments de la métrique à des auditoires provenant de multiples filières, je me suis souvent vu confronté au paradoxe de ne pouvoir recommander aucun manuel de référence pour une langue aussi largement pratiquée que l'anglais... Avec l'ouvrage de Martin Duffell, cette frustration n'a plus lieu d'être.’ — Marc Dominicy, Justicatif: Revue Belge de Philologie et d'Histoire 2014, 980-83