The Written Word in Early Medieval England: Kent, Mercia and Wessex, c. 830–920

di Robert Gallagher (Autore)

Cambridge University Press, 2026

This book presents an innovative, holistic examination of the uses of the written word in early medieval England during a century of political and societal upheaval, culminating in the emergence of the kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons under Alfred the Great and his children, Æthelflæd and Edward the Elder. Through a diverse range of documentary, literary and material evidence, Robert Gallagher explains how literary activity during this period – particularly involving members of the laity – has often been underestimated. He focuses on several innovations in documentary culture that took place in the mid-ninth century, which in turn played a significant role in establishing the cultural conditions for Alfredian cultural renewal. The evidence makes clear that limited personal literacy did not pose a barrier to participation in literary activity. This study thus makes a major new contribution to our understanding of England's ninth- and tenth-century history.

• Autore: Robert Gallagher
• Editore: Cambridge University Press
• Collana: Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series
• Anno: 2026
• Rilegatura: Hardback
• Pagine: 420 p.
• EAN: 9781009628877

Testo in English