Description
This book presents an innovative, holistic examination of the uses of the written word in early medieval England during a century of political and societal upheaval, culminating in the emergence of the kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons under Alfred the Great and his children, Æthelflæd and Edward the Elder. Through a diverse range of documentary, literary and material evidence, Robert Gallagher explains how literary activity during this period – particularly involving members of the laity – has often been underestimated. He focuses on several innovations in documentary culture that took place in the mid-ninth century, which in turn played a significant role in establishing the cultural conditions for Alfredian cultural renewal. The evidence makes clear that limited personal literacy did not pose a barrier to participation in literary activity. This study thus makes a major new contribution to our understanding of England's ninth- and tenth-century history.
Table of Contents
Introduction; Part I: 1. Writing, communication and encounters; 2. Writing kingship: the development of royal diplomatic; 3. Beyond the King's voice: non-royal charters and documentary culture; Part II: 4. The Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons and the written word; 5. Books and their users; 6. Charters, verse and Latin performance; Conclusion; Appendix. A List of surviving manuscripts with an English provenance c. 870 to 920; Charter index [to be compiled]; Manuscript index [to be compiled]; General index [to be compiled]; Bibliography.
