Nicole Guenther Discenza and Paul E. Szarmach, eds., <i>A Companion to Alfred the Great</i>. (Brill’s Companions to the Christian Tradition 58.) Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2015. Pp. xiv, 469; 11 black-and-white and 4 color figures. $218. ISBN: 978-90-04-27484-6.Table of contents available online at http://www.brill.com/products/book/companion-alfred-great (accessed 3 March 2016)
David W. Pratt
Previous articleNext article FreeReviewsNicole Guenther Discenza and Paul E. Szarmach, eds., A Companion to Alfred the Great. (Brill’s Companions Christian Tradition 58.) Leiden Boston: Brill, 2015. Pp. xiv, 469; 11 black-and-white 4 color figures. $218. ISBN: 978-90-04-27484-6.Table of contents available online at http://www.brill.com/products/book/companion-alfred-great (accessed 3 March 2016)David PrattDavid PrattDowning College, Cambridge, UK Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreThis collective volume offers an overview works Old English prose associated with reign King explores some relevant political, art-historical, literary contexts their interpretation. The takes account recent scholarly controversy over authorship attributed also contributes that debate. Central is chapter on as Janet Bately, which makes important statements linguistic integrity four translations king, namely, versions Regula pastoralis Pope Gregory Great, Consolatio Philosophiae Boethius, Soliloquia Saint Augustine, first fifty Psalms. Whereas arguments put forward Malcolm Godden appealed certain lexical syntactical differences between Consolatio, Bately observes such features may be explained differing nature Latin source texts probable variation in conditions composition. Conversely, there substantial agreement Alfredian canon, including two question, Bately’s analysis covers not only instances shared imagery argument but similarities translation technique. overall seem compatible scenario a confident layman interacting helpers.Several other contributions correlate position. Of special interest Patrick O’Neill’s As introductions each psalm reveal, translator approached Psalter strongly historical, Davidic interpretation, unprecedented commentary material. Perhaps working from glossed Irish origin, took pragmatic approach his text, seeking clarify literal sense. singular concern connect psalms tribulations “each righteous man” suggests secular audience, educational context, while idiosyncrasy translator’s further suggestive historical Alfred. On pastoralis, Carolin Schreiber shows even work relatively free its text sentence level, sometimes incorporating qualifications expansions. Asser’s presentation biography king impact Gregorian ideas rulership Alfred’s self-image. Aspects would process involved oral explanation difficult passages helpers. Rosalind Love provides valuable summary commentaries Philosophiae. In case material Remigius Auxerre, it helpful think Auxerre school glossing, reflecting expertise second half ninth century, rather than single, discrete commentary. study renders credible appropriately copy reaching England towards end century. This finding since, observes, was teaching Rheims around same time Grimbald had been recruited into service.The remaining chapters offer useful summaries various texts, generally giving guidance secondary literature. With exceptions, typically quite empirical restricted consideration wider contexts, feature perhaps defensible grounds. idea “paratext,” raised Susan Irvine her prefaces epilogues, hints constructed genres royal authorship. Irvine’s Anglo-Saxon Chronicle usefully considers ideological import annals covering period prior notes comment lying outside Chronicle’s usual stance detachment. Orosius raises intriguing prospect who neutralized text’s original rhetorical agenda, showing vengeance, loyalty “thegns,” last-ditch stands.The context taken furthest opening Simon Keynes, views against backdrop ninth-century developments. There particularly attention numismatic evidence, emergence 880s new “kingdom Anglo-Saxons” helpfully examined number angles. Much image making court, program, should understood having stimulated realities kingdom struggle Viking attacks. culminates illuminating discussion testimony, suggesting portrait “complex contradictory, … compelling convincing” (39). integration continues Leslie Webster’s art. While acknowledging problems dating contextualization, Webster builds picture distinctive use iconographic metalwork West Saxon dynasty, culminating construction, under Alfred, inventive artifacts. engaging levels Carolingian visual production, artifacts Jewel Fuller Brooch own vocabulary, related closely intellectual concerns revealed contrast symbolic objects, what can reconstructed manuscript production favoring conservative decoration, appropriate manuscripts intended circulation.Overall, addition literature studies general coverage technical or specialist areas. extensive bibliography appendix surveying add book’s utility. boundaries “Alfredian prose” are inevitably uncertain; within Martyrology Bald’s Leechbook might have complemented David F. Johnson’s thoughtful Dialogues Bede. Prose Proem Boethius presented contributors problematic, read retrospective activities, written after time, internally inconsistent: exhortations indicate living addressing future readers. point because reinforces otherwise volume’s central messages, strength cultural renaissance, corpus translations. companion contribution world, book deserves widely consulted absorbed. DetailsFiguresReferencesCited Speculum Volume 92, Number 1January 2017 journal Medieval Academy America Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/689917 Copyright America. All rights reserved. For permission reuse, please contact [email protected]PDF download Crossref reports no citing article.
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