Aelfric and the Cult of Saints in Late Anglo-Saxon England

ISBN-13: 9780521855419 / Angielski / Twarda / 2006 / 276 str.

Mechthild Gretsch; Simon Keynes; Andy Orchard

Opis

The literature of Anglo-Saxon England is unique among contemporary European literatures in that it features a vast amount of saints' lives in the vernacular. This study analyzes the most important author Aelfric's lives of five important saints in the light of their cults in Anglo-Saxon England, providing the reader fascinating glimpses of 'Aelfric at work'. He adapts the cults and rewrites the received Latin hagiography so that each of their lives conveys a distinct message to the contemporary political elite as well as to a lay audience at large.

Recenzje

'Gretsch's study of AElfric and the cult of saints offers a fascinating insight not only into AElfric's technique as a hagiographer, but also his place in the development and evolution of saints' cults and attendant hagiographies in Anglo-Saxon England. While this book is certainly concerned with AElfric, it is concerned with much more.' Medium Aevum

Spis treści

1. Ælfric's Sanctorale and the Benedictional of Æthelwold; 2. Gregory: the Apostle of the English; 3. Cuthbert: from Northumbrian Saint to Saint of All England; 4. Benedict: Father of Monks - and what else?; 5. Swithun and Æthelthryth: two 'Saints of our Days'; 6. Epilogue.