Publication and the Papacy in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages

During the medieval period, the papacy actively engaged in authorial publishing, particularly in the eleventh century. Four authors, St Jerome, Arator, Fulcoius of Beauvais, and St Anselm, utilized their papal connections for publicity, demonstrating the significance of papal involvement as a promotional technique.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The papacy's involvement in authorial publishing in late antiquity and the Middle Ages is explored in this Element. The opening discussion establishes that papal involvement in the publication of new works was a prevalent phenomenon throughout the medieval period, particularly surging in the eleventh century. Four authors, namely St Jerome, Arator, Fulcoius of Beauvais, and St Anselm, are examined as case studies to explore their efforts to leverage their papal connections for publicity.

St Jerome and Arator, late antique writers who gained significant influence due to their assertion that their literary projects enjoyed papal sanction, are the first two authors to be analyzed. Their publication strategies serve as a foundation for comparing them with two eleventh-century authors, Fulcoius of Beauvais and St Anselm.

This Element argues that papal involvement in publication constituted a powerful promotional technique. It offers valuable insights into the aspirations and concerns of medieval authors. Additionally, this title is available as Open Access on Cambridge Core, providing further access to the content.

Weight: 108g
Dimension: 126 x 178 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009111089
Edition number: New ed