Materializing Englishness in Early Medieval Texts

This book explores how Englishness in the early medieval period was shaped by material interactions between words, bodies, plants, stones, metals, and soil, arguing that it was an embodied identity emergent at the frontier of these interactions. It demonstrates this through readings of texts in various genres, highlighting how the environment and the textual-discursive realm mutually determined each other.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of Englishness during the early medieval period, unveiling the vibrant material interactions that shaped its essence. Through a series of engaging chapters, it demonstrates how a productive collapse or fusion between place and history unfolded not only in the realm of intellectual ideas but also in the physical realm, intricately woven into encounters between early medieval bodies and a diverse array of material entities. By examining a wide range of texts, including hagiography, heroic poetry, and medical and historical works, the book compellingly argues that Englishness during this era emerged as an embodied identity at the forefront of material and textual interactions. This dynamic interplay serves a vital purpose, effectively obscuring history, religion, and geography while simultaneously shaping the very fabric of the lived environment.

The early medieval English body, therefore, emerges as a remarkable result of the rich and multifaceted encounter between the dynamic lived environment and the textual-discursive realm. The climate, soil, landscape features, plants, and other material elements intertwine with the textual discourses that define and are shaped by the realities of everyday life. This intricate dance creates a tapestry of meaning that shapes the identity and experiences of the early medieval English people.

Through its meticulous exploration, this book offers a fresh perspective on the study of Englishness, shedding light on the complex interplay between materiality, language, and cultural identity. It invites readers to reconsider the notion of Englishness as a static and abstract concept and instead recognizes it as a dynamic and embodied identity that is shaped by the intricate connections between people, places, and the broader world.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 220 x 135 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198757566