The Anglo-Saxon Library
Rodney M. Thomson
This book is the work of a master who has single-handedly created field Anglo-Latin studies and brings to everything he writes vast erudition (like his friend late Bernhard Bischoff) uncanny ability make connections between seemingly disparate objects that result in brilliant (usually) convincing discoveries. Nor does it disappoint. Erudition there aplenty, if views presented are main not new—for much material appeared Lapidge's earlier publications—it good have them synthesised. Some things new, however: attention given books from Anglo-Saxon Continental mission field; use Helmut Gneuss's revised Handlist Manuscripts, judicious conclusion about modest scope libraries relation both ancient ones originally fed them, Frankish (which they helped feed) during Carolingian renaissance. The author might added comparison with post-Conquest English as stood by c.1150. text based upon Lowe Lectures Palaeography, delivered at Oxford University 2002. To five appendices ‘Catalogue Classical Patristic Authors Works Composed before AD 700 Known England’. makes up most book, and, such its substantial permanent value, I suspect will be part consulted. ‘Catalogue’, particular, essentially replacement, so far goes, for Ogilvy's notoriously inaccurate Books known Anglo-Saxons. Its limitation ‘works composed 700’ seems an oddity pity, writings later date listed Appendix E, ‘Latin Cited Principal Authors’. On other hand ‘Catalogue’ swollen items that, shall argue below, should all.
The English Historical Review