{"product_id":"wisdom-authority-and-grammar-in-the-seventh-century-decoding-virgilius-maro-grammaticus-paperback-9780521027694","title":"Wisdom, Authority and Grammar in the Seventh Century; Decoding Virgilius Maro Grammaticus (Paperback \/ softback) 9780521027694","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eWisdom, Authority and Grammar in the Seventh Century\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eDecoding Virgilius Maro Grammaticus\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn alternative interpretation of two of the most puzzling surviving medieval texts.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eVivien Law (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521027694, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 2 November 2006\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e184 pages\u003cbr\u003e21.5 x 13.8 x 1 cm, 0.242 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"There are important ideas in this book.  Law's method rests on a sound philological basis but is also innovative....  This is a book for those who seek to understand the intellectual climate of the seventh century....\"    Denis Brearley, Speculum\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThe works of the seventh-century writer Virgilius Maro Grammaticus are among the most puzzling medieval texts to survive. Ostensibly a pair of grammars, they swarm with hymns, riddles, invented words and imaginary writers. Conventionally interpreted either as a benighted barbarian's unfortunate attempt to write a 'proper' grammar, or as a parody of the pedantic excesses of the ancient grammatical tradition, these texts have long been in need of an alternative reading. Why should a grammarian attack the very notion of authority, thereby destabilizing his own position? The search for an answer leads us via patristic exegesis and medieval wisdom literature to the tantalizingly ill-documented reaches of heterodox initiatory traditions. Vivien Law's book opens important new perspectives on the intellectual life of the early Middle Ages and on the decoding of medieval literature in general.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePreface\u003cbr\u003e Abbreviations\u003cbr\u003e Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 1. The outer layers: parody and word-play\u003cbr\u003e 2. The wisdom tradition\u003cbr\u003e 3. Avarice and the four keys to wisdom\u003cbr\u003e 4. The multifarious nature of wisdom\u003cbr\u003e 5. Heretical knowledge? The constitution of man\u003cbr\u003e 6. The Epistolae: Virgilius' Retractatio?\u003cbr\u003e 7. Concealment of mysteries: the techniques of secrecy\u003cbr\u003e 8. Virgilius and the seventh century\u003cbr\u003e 9. Conclusion\u003cbr\u003e Appendices\u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e Works cited\u003cbr\u003e Index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Literary studies: classical, early \u0026amp; medieval [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Literary studies: classical, early \u0026amp; medieval\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Literary%20studies:%20classical,%20early%20\u0026amp;%20medieval%20%5BDSBB%5D%22\"\u003eDSBB\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46005088157976,"sku":"9780521027694","price":29.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521027694i_50d19ff1-8d69-4005-8cbc-148edaece95c.jpg?v=1694964766","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/wisdom-authority-and-grammar-in-the-seventh-century-decoding-virgilius-maro-grammaticus-paperback-9780521027694","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}