Publishing in a Medieval Monastery: The View from Twelfth-Century Engelberg

This Element contributes to medieval publishing studies with a case study of the books produced at the Benedictine monastery of Engelberg under its celebrated twelfth-century abbot, Frowin. It discusses nearly forty colophons inscribed in the books made for this library, offering a fresh perspective on monastic publishing practice in the twelfth century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This Element makes a significant contribution to the growing field of medieval publishing studies with a case study of the books produced at the Benedictine monastery of Engelberg during the reign of its celebrated twelfth-century abbot, Frowin (1143–78). Frowin was the first abbot of Engelberg to rely on domestic production, supported by an internal scribal workforce, and his tenure marked the first significant expansion of the community's library. The Element's detailed examination of nearly forty colophons inscribed in the books made for this library during Frowin's transformative abbacy provides a fresh perspective on monastic publishing practices in the twelfth century by focusing our attention on a mode of publication that has received limited scholarly attention to date.

The Benedictine monastery of Engelberg, located in the Swiss Alps, is known for its rich literary history. During the twelfth century, under the abbot Frowin (1143–78), the monastery experienced a period of significant growth and development, particularly in the field of publishing. Frowin was the first abbot of Engelberg to adopt a book provision policy that relied on domestic production, utilizing an internal scribal workforce. This innovative approach allowed the monastery to expand its library significantly, making it one of the most important centers of learning and literature in the region.

One of the key aspects of Frowin's tenure was his emphasis on colophons, which were inscriptions or markings placed on the books produced at the monastery. These colophons provided valuable information about the authors, publishers, and printers of the books, as well as the date and place of their production. The Element's in-depth discussion of nearly forty colophons inscribed in the books made for the Engelberg library during Frowin's abbacy offers a unique insight into monastic publishing practices in the twelfth century.

Prior to Frowin's time, monastic libraries primarily relied on external production and scribal services. However, Frowin's policy of domestic production and internal scribal workforce allowed the monastery to control the quality and authenticity of its books. This not only ensured the preservation of valuable knowledge but also allowed the monastery to establish itself as a major center of learning and scholarship.

The colophons inscribed in the Engelberg books provide a wealth of information about the monastery's literary activities and the broader cultural context in which they were produced. They reveal the names of the scribes who worked on the books, the publishers who printed them, and the sources of the materials used in their production. This information can help scholars better understand the development of monastic publishing and the role that monasteries played in the transmission of knowledge during the Middle Ages.

In addition to its contribution to medieval publishing studies, the Element's case study of the Engelberg monastery offers valuable insights into the social and economic dynamics of the twelfth-century European monastic community. The monastery's emphasis on book production and learning was closely tied to its economic and political interests, as it sought to establish itself as a center of knowledge and power in the region. The colophons inscribed in the books also provide evidence of the complex relationships between monasteries, scribes, publishers, and other stakeholders in the literary and cultural industries.

Overall, the Element's study of the books produced at the Benedictine monastery of Engelberg under the abbot Frowin provides a rich and detailed account of monastic publishing practices in the twelfth century. Its in-depth discussion of nearly forty colophons inscribed in the books offers a fresh perspective on a mode of publication that has received limited attention in scholarship to date. By examining the colophons and the broader cultural context in which they were produced, the Element contributes to our understanding of the role that monasteries played in the transmission of knowledge and the development of medieval culture.

ISBN-13: 9781009202558