This is the first history of the book in Britain from the Norman Conquest until the early fifteenth century. The twenty-six expert contributors to this volume discuss the manuscript book from a variety of angles: as physical object (manufacture, format, writing and decoration); its purpose and readership (books for monasteries, for the Church's liturgy, for elementary and advanced instruction, for courtly entertainment); and as the vehicle for particular types of text (history, sermons, medical treatises, law and administration, music). In all of this, the broader, changing social and cultural context is kept in mind, and so are the various connections with continental Europe. The volume includes a full bibliography and 80 black and white plates.
• The most authoritative history of the early medieval book available • Contributors include world experts on manuscripts and palaeography • Features extensive bibliographies and many illustrations
Contents
Preface; Part I. The Roles of Books: 1. Books and society Christopher de Hamel; 2. Language and literacy Rodney M. Thomson and Nigel Morgan; Part II. Book Production: 3. The format of books: books, booklets and rolls Pamela Robinson; 4. Layout and presentation of the text M. B. Parkes; 5. Technology of production of the manuscript book: I Parchment and ruling Rodney M. Thomson; II Illumination Nigel Morgan; III Binding Michael Gullick and Nicholas Hadcraft; 6. Handwriting in English books c. 1100-1425 M. B. Parkes; 7. Monastic and Cathedral book production Rodney M. Thomson; 8. Urban production of manuscript books and the role of the university towns Michael Michael; Part III. Readership, Libraries, Texts and Contexts: 9. Library catalogues and indexes Richard Sharpe; 10. University and monastic texts: I Biblical exegesis, theology,and philosophy Jeremy Catto; II Latin poetry, satires, fables and grammar Jan Ziolkowski; III Encyclopaedias Michael Twomey; 11. Law Nigel Ramsay; 12. Books for the liturgy and private prayer Nigel Morgan; 13. Compilations for preaching and Lollard literature: I Compilations for preaching Alan Fletcher; II Lollard literature Anne Hudson; 14. Spiritual writings and religious instruction Alexandra Barratt; 15. Vernacular literature and its readership: I Anglo-Norman Tony Hunt; II Middle English Julia Boffey and A. S. G. Edwards; III Welsh Daniel Huws; 16. History and history books Geoffrey Martin and Rodney M. Thomson; 17. Archive books Nigel Ramsay; 18. Scientific and medical writings Charles Burnett and Peter Jones; 19. Music Nicolas Bell; 20. Illustration and decoration Martin Kauffman; Bibliography; General index; Index of manuscripts; Plates.
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