&lt;i&gt;England and the Continent in the Tenth Century: Studies in Honour of Wilhelm Levison (1876–1947)&lt;/i&gt; (review)
Justin Haar
Reviewed by: England and the Continent in Tenth Century: Studies Honour of Wilhelm Levison (1876–1947) Justin Haar (1876–1947), ed. David Rollason, Conrad Leyser, Hannah Williams (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols 2010) xxvi + 573 pp., ill. is perhaps best known for his monumental Eighth Century, a part canon twentieth-century medieval historiography. spent early career expanding content scope MGH with definitive editions lives Willibrord Boniface, but 1939 took up post at Durham University to escape Nazi persecution. It was there that he composed most influential work, arguing clear connections between Continent; opinion, Anglo-Saxon missionaries had saved barbaric pre-Christian continent, pattern hoped see repeated own life. Levison’s impact has been far-reaching: put first crack insular exceptionalism which plagued English scholarship point; work inspired many take questions aims other places—Story, Nelson, Reuter, among others, have all drawn on work. This volume result one five conferences held 2007 honor sixtieth anniversary death Levison. With contributions [End Page 186] by more than twenty-five scholars who met St John’s College, Durham, it explores interests tenth century. The period, view editors, often “plays Cinderella her sisters, ninth eleventh” (10). There tendency look Carolingians or Gregorian Reforms, rather treating century its right; this aimed addressing problem, does so aplomb. divided into thematic parts, each containing three eight papers. section, pathways communication continent is—given title, unsurprisingly—the longest, examines actual points contact Continent. followed section kingship, royal models, dynastic strategies comparative perspective, while shorter third takes similar approach law government administration. fourth analyzes organization culture church, reading Continental patterns through lenses honed England, fifth final considers how past shaped represented tenth-century’s Nearly papers are focus, taking heart concept as framing principle; even when focus solely they tend do question historiographic assumptions haunted field history. In fact, publication looking back life last century’s great historians, refreshingly forward-looking. contributors essays, would be too much list them all, I offer my apologies any not specifically enumerated here. essays wide-ranging, both topically methodologically. Particular stand-outs include Stéphane Lebecq Alban Gautier’s economic, historical, technological consideration trade Richard Gameson’s careful art historical closely read analysis single, anonymous artist’s manuscript illuminations; Michael Wood’s biographical sketch little-known Irish master, Israel Trier, whose spanned Carolingian Europe alike; Sarah Foot’s West Saxon reign Aethelstan; Wendy Davies’s parochial care parish churches tenth-century northern Spain; Jesse Billett’s detailed liturgical history, challenges role divine Office monastic reform. Again, chapters collection deserve mention, sake...
Comitatus-a Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies