The Life and Works of Baldric of Bourgueil

A biography of Baldric's life and work as a poet was written by Henri Pasquier in the late nineteenth century, based in large part on notes and documents gathered by André Salmon, archivist of the city of Tours, who died in 1857. Editions of Baldric's poems by Phyllis Abrahams in 1926 and Karlheinz Hilbert in 1979 contain some biographical material largely derived from Pasquier. The evidence for the life of Baldric has been examined afresh by Jean-Yves Tilliette in the first part of the most recent and complete edition of Baldric's poetic works. In English, Gerald Bond has drawn upon the Pasquier biography and some newer research by Tilliette to inform his analysis of Baldric's poetry.

Historiographically, Baldric's poetry has been the dominant subject of analysis, with historians and literary scholars drawing on it many times for insights into medieval culture. Some work has also been carried out on his prose output, both in terms of editorial scholarship and, to a limited extent, critical analysis. Two of Baldric's hagiographical works have received critical attention: the Vita s. Roberti de Arbrissellis and his updating of the Vita s. Samsonis. Four of Baldric's hagiographical works have been gathered in a new edition: the Vita s. Samsonis, the Vita s. Hugonis, the Miracula s. Valentini and Acta s. Valeriani martyris.