The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain

Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 3/27/2014
EAN 9781107636767, ISBN10: 1107636760

Paperback, 640 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 4.1 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English

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.

Preface
Part I. The Roles of Books
1. Books and society Christopher de Hamel
2. Language and literacy Rodney M. Thomson and Nigel J. 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 J. 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 M. A. 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 J. 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.