Nuns’ Literacies in Medieval Europe: The Hull Dialogue ed. by Virginia Blanton, Veronica O’Mara, and Patricia Stoop
Alexandra Barratt
Reviewed by: Nuns’ Literacies in Medieval Europe: The Hull Dialogue ed. by Virginia Blanton, Veronica O’Mara, and Patricia Stoop Alexandra Barratt Virginia, Stoop, eds, (Medieval Women: Texts Contexts, 26), Turnhout, Brepols, 2013; hardback; pp. xxxiii, 367; 19 b/w illustrations, 6 tables; R.R.P. €90.00; ISBN 978250353972. This volume contains seventeen papers originally delivered at the 2011 conference on Nun’s Europe. Most readers will find some of material (and contributors) unfamiliar, as this comparative ranges widely across northern Europe (especially Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, England) from eighth to early sixteenth centuries, so editorial introduction is particularly welcome. first section, ‘Literacy Nuns: Finding Interpreting Evidence’, opens with Helene Scheck’s consideration a Carolingian manuscript evidence for its study over several centuries French German women religious literate Latin. Bruce L. Venarde discusses different kind literacy Petronilla de Chemillé, abbess Fontevraud, who twelfth century used ‘the written word strategic tool’ (p. 20). Alison I. Beach writes Mathilde von Neuffen, one five twelfth-century [End Page 143] scribes double monastery Zwiefalten whose names are known, arguing that she was many involved book production there. We then take chronological geographical leap into late medieval England, Marilyn Oliva’s analysis nuns’ French, English, Latin household accounts, O’Mara’s discussion English nun, which gathers together scattered large number female scribes. second ‘Language Literacy: Vernacular’, highlights lack among nuns, contributions devoted Austria, but nothing England. Monica Hedlund (Continental) Latinity, particular reference Swedish Birgittines; Cynthia J. Cyrus studies Viennese women’s houses, Thom Mertens fifteenth-century Middle Dutch books hours other liturgical texts, their use variety religious. third longest ‘Literate Reading Writing Convent’, initiates more dialogue between England Continent, three four Continental nuns. Lisa M. C. Weston embodied ‘habits literacy’ 149) seventh- eighth-century Anglo-Saxon while Stephanie Hollis Romsey Abbey legendary it owned fifteenth (now London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 346), possible an ‘early tradition 171). Blanton six extant legendaries Latin, Anglo-Norman, ‘owned or gifted 188). Turning back Europe, Alfred Thomas German, Czech, Bohemian noblewomen, Regina Schiewer St Georgener Predigten, thirteenth-century Cistercian sermon collection clearly aimed learned Jonas Carlquist addresses extent Vadstena Birgittine learning, mealtime readings devotional texts translation, Ingela Hedström pursues subject generally, showing daily activities required not only reading, writing, access books, also scribal activity, especially centuries. final ‘Authorship Nun Nun’, significantly shortest, two contributions: Wybren Scheepsma Griet Essinchghes, sixteenth-century Windesheim her work sister-book Diepenveen, sermons abbey near Brussels. fascinating advances our knowledge literacy, shows still uneven. 144] University Waikato Copyright © 2014
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