Vernacular writings in the medieval libraries of Great Britain

Abstract

The thesis comprises four volumes: an introductory discussion; two volumes containing lists of religious and other institutions with information on the works in the vernacular languages which they are known to have owned; and a volume of indices and bibliographies. The information is obtained from the surviving books of the medieval period, here taken as extending to 1540, which are known to have belonged to the religious and other houses, and from their medieval catalogues, book-lists and other documents. With the help of the indices, one may find the information relevant to a particular house, to an Anglo-Saxon, French or English work, or to a given manuscript.
The introduction makes some general’observations concerning the libraries and books of medieval institutions, lists the medieval catalogues and book-lists chronologically, and considers the various kinds of vernacular writings, with particular reference to their production and ownership by the religious houses. Finally, some areas for further research are indicated.
The present study thus brings together for the first time, for the benefit of students of medieval literature and social history, all the information at present available from primary and secondary sources regarding the vernacular writings known to have been available to the members of religious and similar communities in Great Britain throughout the whole of the Middle Ages.

Citation

(1980). Vernacular writings in the medieval libraries of Great Britain