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 and thus makes a major new contribution to our understanding of England's ninth- and tenth-century history.
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An innovative study of uses of writing in early medieval England during a pivotal century of political and societal upheaval.
Introduction; Part I:
1. Writing, communication and encounters;
2.
Writing kingship: the development of royal diplomatic;
3. Beyond the King's
voice: non-royal charters and documentary culture; Part II:
4. The Kingdom of
the Anglo-Saxons and the written word;
5. Books and their users;
6. Charters,
verse and Latin performance; Conclusion; Appendix. A List of surviving
manuscripts with an English provenance c. 870 to 920; Charter index [ to be
compiled]; Manuscript index [ to be compiled]; General index [ to be compiled];
Bibliography.
Robert Gallagher is Senior Lecturer in Early Medieval History at the University of Kent. He is the author of numerous academic articles, and co-editor, with Edward Roberts and Francesca Tinti, of The Languages of Early Medieval Charters (2021).
