The Afterlife of St Cuthbert: Place, Texts and Ascetic Tradition, 690-1500

The Afterlife of St Cuthbert is an ambitious book that analyzes the evolving representation of Cuthbert, the premier saint of northern England, across eight centuries, exploring his conceptual alignment with institutional, masculine, northern, and national spaces, and the distinctive characteristics and changing value of his ascetic lifestyle and environment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This expansive book offers the first comprehensive examination of the evolving portrayal of Cuthbert, the preeminent saint of northern England. Spanning a remarkable eight centuries, the study encompasses a diverse range of major and overlooked texts, from his earliest representations in anonymous and Bedan vitae to his late medieval appearances in Latin meditations, legends, and vernacular verse. Through meticulous analysis, Whitehead unveils the interconnectedness of these texts as a unified tradition, delving into how ideologies and literary strategies endure across generations. This groundbreaking work introduces an innovative perspective to the literature of insular spirituality and hagiography, with a particular emphasis on the interconnected categories of place and asceticism. It charts Cuthbert's conceptual alignment with various institutional, masculine, northern, and national spaces, while also exploring the distinctive features and evolving significance of his ascetic lifestyle and environment, often characterized as a nature sanctuary. The book engages in a thoughtful interrogation of its relationship to his other jurisdictional domains, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of Cuthbert's legacy and its enduring impact on the religious and cultural landscape of northern England.

ISBN-13: 9781108748421