The Oxford Handbook of Latin Palaeography

Latin books are a rich source of knowledge from the Late Antique,Mediaeval,and Renaissance periods in European history. The Oxford Handbook of Latin Palaeography surveys these books, focusing on the variety of scripts and their cultural contexts. It includes essays on major script types, codicology, and the book trade, with extensive illustrations and bibliographies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 1080 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Latin books are a treasure trove of surviving artifacts from the Late Antique, Mediaeval, and Renaissance periods in European history, written in a diverse range of formats and scripts. These invaluable texts preserve the rich literary, philosophical, scientific, and religious heritage of the Western world. The Oxford Handbook of Latin Palaeography is a comprehensive survey of these books, with a special emphasis on the diverse scripts in which they were written.

In its strictest sense, palaeography is the study of how the changing styles of script and the varying shapes of individual letters enable us to determine the date and place of production of books. However, it extends beyond this narrow definition to encompass the entire realm of early book production, ownership, dissemination, and use. The Oxford Handbook of Latin Palaeography offers a comprehensive exploration of this field, featuring essays on major types of script, such as Uncial, Insular, Beneventan, Visigothic, Gothic, and more. These essays provide detailed descriptions of what distinguishes these script types and outline their historical usage. By expanding on previous handbooks of the subject, the handbook also delves into less well-studied periods and regions, particularly late mediaeval Eastern Europe.

One of the distinguishing features of the Oxford Handbook of Latin Palaeography is its extensive focus on codicology, the study of the physical aspects of books. The handbook includes essays that explore the materials, construction, and preservation of mediaeval books, shedding light on the techniques and technologies used in their production. Additionally, the volume emphasizes the cultural settings and contexts of mediaeval books, examining how they were used and valued in different societies. Essays treat of various important features, formats, styles, and genres of mediaeval books, as well as representative mediaeval libraries as intellectual centers.

Furthermore, the handbook explores questions of orality and the written word, the book trade, glossing and glossaries, and manuscript cataloguing. These essays provide insights into the social and cultural significance of mediaeval books and their role in shaping intellectual discourse. The extensive plates and figures in the volume offer clear illustrations of the major points, while the succinct bibliographies in each essay guide readers to more detailed work.

In conclusion, the Oxford Handbook of Latin Palaeography is a vital resource for scholars and enthusiasts of mediaeval and Renaissance studies. It offers a comprehensive and detailed exploration of Latin books, their scripts, codicology, and cultural contexts. With its extensive coverage and insightful essays, the handbook provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the rich literary, philosophical, scientific, and religious heritage of the Western world.

Weight: 1576g
Dimension: 173 x 252 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197689707