Writing, Society and Culture in Early Rus, c.950–1300

This is a comprehensive study of the origins and early uses of Russian writing.

Simon Franklin (Author)

9780521129022, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 4 February 2010

356 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.45 kg

Review of the hardback: 'This is an engagingly written and scholarly presentation of an essential aspect of the study of Russian for philologists and serious linguists. The whole is preceded by indispensable lists of illustrations and abbreviations, a note on transliteration, and a map. … This is a most useful, non-simplifying summary and exploration for anyone taking a fresh look at the early history of Russian.' Forum for Modern Language Studies

This book provides a thorough survey and analysis of the emergence and functions of written culture in Rus (covering roughly the modern East Slav lands of European Russia, Ukraine and Belarus). Part I introduces the full range of types of writing: the scripts and languages, the materials, the social and physical contexts, ranging from builders' scratches on bricks through to luxurious parchment manuscripts. Part II presents a series of thematic studies of the 'socio-cultural dynamics' of writing, in order to reveal and explain distinctive features in the Rus assimilation of the technology. The comparative approach means that the book may also serve as a case-study for those with a broader interest either in medieval uses of writing or in the social and cultural history of information technologies. Overall, the impressive scholarship and idiosyncratic wit of this volume commend it to students and specialists in Russian history and literature alike. Awarded the Alec Nove Prize, given by the British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies for the best book of 2002 in Russian, Soviet or Post-Soviet studies.

Part I. The Graphic Environment: 1. The written remains
2. Scripts and languages
3. The changing environment
Part II. Functions and Perceptions of Writing: 4. Writing and social organisation
5. Writing and learning
6. Writing and pictures
7. Writing and magic
8. Afterword: on the social and cultural dynamics of writing.

Subject Areas: Cultural studies [JFC], Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], European history [HBJD], Literacy [CFC]