Illuminating the Word in the Early Middle Ages

This richly illustrated study explores the origins of the illuminated book, which introduced colorful large letters and ornamental frames as guides for readers, tracing their surprising origins within late Roman reading practices. It argues that the first steps in this development were taken on the European continent within classical practices of reading and writing, rather than among non-Roman barbarians.

Format: Hardback
Length: 530 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This captivating study delves into the pivotal initial stages of the emergence of the novel phenomenon known as the illuminated book, which revolutionized the reading experience by introducing vibrant, large letters and ornate frames as navigational aids for readers. Tracing their surprising roots back to late Roman reading practices, Lawrence Nees reveals how these decorative elements serve as the forebears of features we now take for granted in printed and electronic books, such as font selection, word spacing, punctuation, and sentence capitalization. Accompanied by two hundred stunning photographs, nearly all in color, this book showcases the remarkable transition in book design from ancient to medieval times. Moreover, it offers an in-depth exploration of the significance of race and ethnicity in twentieth-century historiography, contending that the initial strides toward this new style of book were made on the European continent within the classical practices of reading and writing, rather than as commonly portrayed among the non-Roman "barbarians."

Weight: 1336g
Dimension: 183 x 253 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009193863