<scp>Orietta Da Rold</scp> and <scp>Elaine Treharne</scp> (eds). <i>The Cambridge Companion to Medieval British Manuscripts</i>
Raluca Rădulescu
Every palaeography scholar and teacher has an idea of what a dream textbook for the teaching their subject could look like. This volume is competing that place. It mine information both beginners more seasoned students teachers palaeography, written by leading scholars in field manuscript studies. Structured as three-part investigation, links these to three central questions: How do we study manuscript? Why Where Part I opens with Richard Beadle’s Ralph Hanna’s chapter on describing cataloguing medieval English manuscripts. Characteristically, authors, clear succinct, provides solid backbone first steps required working manuscript, from headings prelims contents materials, while tackling difficult issues collation, including how work quires booklets. As component sections listed here indicate, directed towards bound book (codex), are rest chapters this volume, so broader range formats British manuscripts survive not covered here. In Chapter 2, Donald Scragg uses example early Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Hatton 115, query way which modern or older catalogue descriptions fit understandings ‘booklet’, put forward classic Pamela Robinson 1978. Julia Crick Daniel Wakelin pick up complex issue identifying, reading understanding scripts 3. Their discussion ranges much widely than Scragg’s, broad approach development Western Insular Carolingian traditions close examination scribal idiosyncrasies, even when they followed model script. The importance location, patron/commissioner least habits/teamwork codex also considered part then ends contributions question hand (how manuscript) Beatrice Kitzinger Ryan Perry. takes Arundel Psalter case illustrate methods for, difficulties encountered in, art historical analyses programme illustration manuscript. Perry tackles controversial topic organization where several, generically different, texts copied together, identification booklets collation key issues. advocates middle line between Derek Pearsall’s warning about ‘exemplar poverty’ intentional fallacy interpretations structure/order copying into codices reveal programmatic choices. section book, whole, teach beginner codicology palaeography.
The Review of English Studies