The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain: Volume 2, 1100–1400 1100 - 1400

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.

Nigel J. Morgan is Honorary Professor of the History of Art at the University of Cambridge and Emeritus Professor at the University of Oslo.
Rodney M. Thomson is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Tasmania.