Book Series Utrecht Studies in Medieval Literacy, vol. 40

Looking Back from the Invention of Printing

Mothers and the Teaching of Reading in the Middle Ages

Michael Clanchy

  • Pages: xii + 211 p.
  • Size:156 x 234 mm
  • Illustrations:49 col.
  • Language(s):English
  • Publication Year:2018

  • € 75,00 EXCL. VAT RETAIL PRICE
  • ISBN: 978-2-503-58083-8
  • Hardback
  • Available


A survey of medieval literacy going beyond the shift ‘from memory to written record’, paying attention to the role of women in teaching reading.

Review(s)

“This richly illustrated book is a tribute to the scholarship of Michael Clanchy.” (Elisabeth van Houts, in The Medieval Review, 19/09/36)

« Au total, voici un livre riche de suggestions nouvelles qui, en suivant la piste de la »literacy« montre une fois encore qu’il n’y eut pas de solution de continuité entre Moyen Âge et Temps

modernes, en dépit de la nouveauté technique représentée par l’imprimerie. » (Jean-Claude Schmitt, in Francia-Recensio, 4, 2019)

« Ce volume, publié chez Brepols, pourrait ainsi être l’occasion de faire connaître une œuvre majeure ailleurs qu’au Royaume-Uni et dans le nord de l’Europe. » (Sergi Sancho Fibla dans Cahiers de civilisation médiévale, 253, 2021, p. 67)

 

 

Summary

Michael Clanchy’s From Memory to Written Record, first published in 1979, has shaped the study of medieval literacy. Apart from continuing to work on ‘pragmatic literacy’, he has also turned his attention to other forms of making, keeping, and using written texts.

This book collates six articles since published, showing new directions in the field of medieval literacy and communication. The first two chapters — ‘Looking Back from the Invention of Printing’ and ‘Parchment and Paper: Manuscript Culture, 1100-1500 AD’ — provide an overview of further work on medieval manuscript culture. The next four — ‘Images of Ladies with Prayer Books: What Do They Signify?’; ‘An Icon of Literacy: The Depiction at Tuse of Jesus Going to School’; ‘The ABC Primer: Was it in Latin or English?’; ‘Did Mothers Teach Their Children to Read?’ — highlight a new interest in gender that has reviewed earlier ideas on literacy.

Featuring 49 colour illustrations, the book also includes an Introduction, Bibliography, and Index.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

List of Illustrations

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Looking back from the Invention of Printing

Chapter 3. Parchment and Paper: Manuscript Culture, 1100-1500 AD

Chapter 4. Images of Ladies with Prayer Books: What Do They Signify?

Chapter 5. An Icon of Literacy: The Depiction at Tuse of Jesus Going to School

Chapter 6. The ABC Primer: Was it in Latin or English?

Chapter 7. Did Mothers Teach Their Children to Read?

Bibliography

Index