<i>Charters and the use of the written word in medieval society</i> (review)
John H. Pryor
Reviews 241 Greenblatt was personally and professionally prompted to try account for Shakespeare's power disturb us still at these levels. The starting point his book exploring the Jewish kaddish, prayers dead, which, 'scarcely knowing how pray', tells us, he undertook o w n devout father. He moved by, write about, Hamlet's 'magical intensity', regrettingthat 'my profession has become so oddly diffident even phobic about literary power, suspicious tense, that itriskslosing sight of- or least failing articulate - whole reason anyone bothers with enterprise in thefirstplace' (p. 4). A brief review cannot do justice scholarly range, poetic attentiveness , sheer critical grip ofthis thrilling book; niggles minor slips would be an impertinence. It is one of those all too rare works criticism which make you want cheer gratitude, articulates enviable elegance intelligence complex capability being, as Keats put it, 'in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts'. Robert Easting School ofEnglish, Film, Theatre Victoria University Wellington Heidecker, Karl, ed., Charters use written word medieval society, Turnhout, Brepols, 2000; pp. xi, 253; cloth; R P EUR50.00; ISBN 2503507719. One needs wary titles edited collections. Frequently they can entirely misleading and, unfortunately, this case instance. volume contains some ofthe proceedings from two meetings, 'Charters: development writing society' (Utrecht, 29 April 1999) 'Charters word' (Leeds, 12 July 1999), both organized by Utrecht Pionier Project Verschriftelijking. Karl Heidecker contributes a short rather disappointing 'Introduction' actually says very little. For unexplained decided elaborate contributions whatever may have been, publish them separately monograph. This left much poorer decision so. result uneven volume, heavily inclined Northern Eastern Europe peripheries Latin general. Even appreciates acknowledges this, almost apologetically. preferred explanation, ' . simple reasons logistics [it not 242 possible]... cover Europe' reads weakly since no attempt been made Only contribution concerned Italy, marginal issue Milanese court procedures handling documents proof, none Occitania Iberia. title seriously misleading. Another annoying feature contributors remain unidentified institution any other way. revealing, example paper 'Towards reappraisal Carolingian sovereign charters'. consists ofbibliographical notes series methodological observations questions currently occupy author preparation thesis, are answers fresh insights provided. Reports on work progress occasionally useful but more often it far better wait results before going into print. David Postles's 'Country clerici composition English twelfth- thirteenth-century private charters', though appears contributed either original nevertheless interesting welcome addition volume. However, many contributions, suffers lack real engage relationships existed Middle Ages between charters forms ofproof contract various modes making contract, especially orally. same comment Philippe Depreux's otherwise contribution: 'The confirming exchange royal [i.e., Carolingian] administration (eighth-tenth centuries)'. In fact overall weakness entire There pretence oral originality surviving texts must reality, inadequately explored. jargon of...
Parergon