Medieval English Travel: A Critical Anthology

Medieval English Travel: A Critical Anthology is a comprehensive volume that includes introductory essays, an anthology of texts, and supporting bibliographies. It presents twenty-six texts and extracts, including new editions and less familiar texts, and explores five areas of travel: commercial voyages, diplomatic and military travel, maps, rutters, and charts, practical needs, languages, and currencies, and religious voyages.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 528 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Medieval English Travel: A Critical Anthology is a comprehensive and extensive volume that encompasses three distinct sections. The first section consists of six companion essays, each delving into various aspects of medieval English travel. These essays explore topics such as Places, Real and Imagined, Maps and the Organization of Space, Encounters, Codes and Languages, Trade and Exchange, and Politics and Diplomacy. The organizing principle for this anthology is one of expansive geography, as it spans across local English narratives, France, en-route destinations, the Holy Land, and the Far East. In total, the anthology comprises twenty-six texts or extracts, including new editions of renowned works such as Floris & Blancheflour, The Stacions of Rome, The Libelle of Englyshe Polycye, and Chaucer's Squire's Tale. Additionally, it includes less familiar texts such as Osbern Bokenham's Mappula Angliae, John Kay's Siege of Rhodes, 1480, and Richard Torkington's Diaries of Englysshe Travell.

The second section of the anthology presents a collection of important and lesser-known texts, carefully grouped by their respective destinations. These texts offer a rich insight into the experiences and narratives of medieval travelers, providing a diverse range of perspectives and narratives. From the treacherous voyages across the Atlantic Ocean to the intricate trade networks in the Middle East, each text contributes to our understanding of the complexities and challenges of medieval travel.

The third section of the anthology consists of comprehensive supporting bibliographies organized by the type of voyage. These bibliographies serve as valuable resources for scholars and researchers seeking further information and insights into medieval English travel. They provide detailed explanations of the contexts for travel and travelers in five key areas: commercial voyages, diplomatic and military travel, maps, rutters, and charts, practical needs, languages, and currencies, as well as religious voyages.

Medieval English Travel: A Critical Anthology is a groundbreaking work that offers a comprehensive and multifaceted perspective on medieval English travel. Through its concise introductory essays, anthology of important and lesser-known texts, and selection of supporting bibliographies, it provides a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike. By exploring various aspects of medieval travel, including geography, encounters, languages, and cultural exchange, this anthology sheds light on the rich and complex tapestry of medieval society.

Weight: 788g
Dimension: 158 x 234 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192848604