The Written Word in Early Medieval England
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- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Publication date:
- 08 May 2026
- 11 June 2026
- ISBN:
- 9781009628853
- 9781009628877
- Dimensions:
- (229 x 152 mm)
- Weight & Pages:
- 0.787kg, 420 Pages
- Dimensions:
- Weight & Pages:
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Book description
This book presents an innovative, holistic examination of the uses of the written word in early medieval England during a century of political and societal upheaval, culminating in the emergence of the kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons under Alfred the Great and his children, Æthelflæd and Edward the Elder. Through a diverse range of documentary, literary and material evidence, Robert Gallagher explains how literary activity during this period – particularly involving members of the laity – has often been underestimated. He focuses on several innovations in documentary culture that took place in the mid-ninth century, which in turn played a significant role in establishing the cultural conditions for Alfredian cultural renewal. The evidence makes clear that limited personal literacy did not pose a barrier to participation in literary activity. This study thus makes a major new contribution to our understanding of England's ninth- and tenth-century history.
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