The European Book in the Twelfth Century

The first comprehensive study of the European book in the historical period known as the 'long twelfth century' (1075–1225).

Erik Kwakkel (Edited by), Rodney Thomson (Edited by)

9781107136984, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 July 2018

434 pages, 44 b/w illus. 1 table
23.5 x 15.6 x 2.4 cm, 0.84 kg

'The book should and probably will be perceived as a companion volume to twelfth-century manuscript studies. Whether you read it as a manual to acquire a broader knowledge of the period, or selectively, as a reference tool, its comprehensive character makes it a very accessible introduction to the subject for junior and experienced scholars alike.' Joanna Fronska, Manuscript Studies

The 'long twelfth century' (1075–1225) was an era of seminal importance in the development of the book in medieval Europe and marked a high point in its construction and decoration. This comprehensive study takes the cultural changes that occurred during the 'twelfth-century Renaissance' as its point of departure to provide an overview of manuscript culture encompassing the whole of Western Europe. Written by senior scholars, chapters are divided into three sections: the technical aspects of making books; the processes and practices of reading and keeping books; and the transmission of texts in the disciplines that saw significant change in the period, including medicine, law, philosophy, liturgy, and theology. Richly illustrated, the volume provides the first in-depth account of book production as a European phenomenon.

Introduction Erik Kwakkel and Rodney Thomson
Part I. Book Production: 1. Codicology Erik Kwakkel and Rodney Thomson
2. Book script Erik Kwakkel
3. Decoration and illustration Martin Kauffmann
4. Scribes and scriptoria Rodney Thomson
Part II. Readers and Their Books: 5. Scholars and their books Constant Mews
6. The libraries of religious houses Teresa Webber
7. Modes of reading Jenny Weston
8. Practices of appropriation: writing in the margin Mariken Teeuwen
Part III. Types of Books: 9. Hebrew books Judith Schlanger
10. Liturgical books Nicolas Bell
11. Books of theology and bible study Lesley Smith
12. Logic John Marenbon and Caterina Tarlazzi
13. Old texts in new contexts: the classical revival Irene O'Daly
14. Reading the sciences Charles Burnett
15. Medical books Monica Green
16. Law books Charles Radding
17. Vernacular books Ian Short and Nigel F. Palmer.

Subject Areas: Printing & reprographic technology [TDPP], Publishing industry & book trade [KNTP], Medieval history [HBLC1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]