Literary Variety and the Writing of History in Britain's Long Twelfth Century

The use of literary variety in twelfth-century British histories is explored in this book, which argues that Latin prose historians used it to construct comprehensive and continuous accounts of Britain's past. It influenced Middle English verse chroniclers to adopt similar principles in their vernacular poetry, providing a new framework for interpreting medieval historians' stylistic and organizational choices.

Format: Hardback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 10 January 2023
Publisher: York Medieval Press

After the Conquest, historical writers embraced a diverse range of literary forms, delving into the reasons behind their usage and the effects they had on their narratives. During the twelfth-century renaissance in Britain, a remarkable literary variety known as Latin varietas emerged in the histories of the region. British historians writing after the Norman Conquest, in particular, paid attention to the diverse styles and structures of their texts. However, the question arises: why did these historians associate literary variety with the craft of history writing?

To answer this question, this book draws upon theories of literary variety found in classical and medieval rhetoric. It explores how British writers came to believe that varietas could aid them in constructing comprehensive and continuous accounts of Britain's past. By examining the works of Latin prose historians like William of Malmesbury, Henry of Huntingdon, and Geoffrey of Monmouth, the book demonstrates how these writers incorporated a diverse array of literary forms into their narratives, carefully selecting and organizing them in accordance with their broader historiographical aims.

The pronounced literary variety of these influential histories had a profound impact on some Middle English verse chroniclers, such as Laȝamon and Robert Mannyng. Inspired by the rhetorical and historiographical principles underlying the Latin prose, these chroniclers adopted similar approaches in their vernacular poetry. Through the exploration of the rhetorical and historiographical theories beneath their literary variety, this book offers a fresh framework for interpreting the stylistic and organizational choices of medieval historians.

In conclusion, the study of the literary forms adopted by historical writers after the Conquest provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between literature and history in medieval Britain. By examining the rhetorical and historiographical theories underlying these literary choices, this book offers a new perspective on the stylistic and organizational decisions made by medieval historians, shedding light on their creative processes and the broader aims of their narratives.

Weight: 1g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914049101