Description
Book SynopsisA fresh look at William of Malmesbury which not only demonstrates his real greatness as a historian and his European vision, but also the breadth of his learning across a number of other disciplines. In the past William of Malmesbury (1090-1143) has been seen as first and foremost a historian of England, and little else. This volume reveals not only William's real greatness as a historian and his European vision, but also the breadth and depth of his learning across a number of other fields. Areas that receive particular attention are William's historical writings, his historical vision and interpretation of England's past; William and kingship; William's language; William's medical knowledge; the influence of Bede and other ancient writers on William's historiography; William and chronology; William, Anselm of Canterbury and reform of the English Church; William and the Latin Classics; William and the Jews; and William as hagiographer. Overall, the volume offers a broad coverage of William's learning, wide-ranging interests and significance as revealed in his writings.
Trade ReviewA rewarding book for scholars of twelfth-century England. The book lives up to its title, the innovative approaches to William's life and works it contains proposing new discoveries, even for those already familiar with William's legacy. * PARERGON *
The editors of this volume and its contributors deserve significant praise for assembling a collection of thought-provoking chapters, which not only help us to understand better the life and writings of William of Malmesbury, but which should also find relevance within the wider field of Anglo-Norman studies, the study and writing of history during the Middle Ages, and numerous additional topics besides. * REVIEWS IN HISTORY *
[A] thought-provoking collection which makes a significant contribution to our understanding not only of William of Malmesbury's life and works, but also of twelfth-century historical writing and intellectual history, as well as broader aspects of the Anglo-Norman world such as national identity and kingship. * History *
Table of ContentsDiscovering William of Malmesbury: The Man and his Works - Emily Dolmans and Emily A. Winkler Gesta Pontificum Anglorum: History or Hagiography? - Anne E. Bailey William of Malmesbury and Civic Virtue - Daniel Gerrard The Ironies of History: William of Malmesbury's Views of William II and Henry I - John B Gillingham William of Malmesbury and the Jews - Kati Ihnat Advising the King: Kingship, Bishops and Saints in the Works of William of Malmesbury - Ryan Kemp Roman Identity in William of Malmesbury's Historical Writings - William of Malmesbury and the Chronological Controversy - Anne Lawrence-Mathers William of Malmesbury and Durham: the Circulation of Historical Knowledge in Early Twelfth-Century England - Stanislav Mereminskiy William of Malmesbury as Librarian: The Evidence of his Autographs - Samu Niskanen William of Malmesbury: Medical Historian of the Crusades - Joanna Phillips German Emperors as Exemplary Rulers in William of Malmesbury and Otto of Freising - Alheydis Plassmann Lector amice: Reading as Friendship in William of Malmesbury - Sigbjorn Olsen Sonnesyn William of Malmesbury's Historical Vision - R. M. Thomson Verax historicus Beda: William of Malmesbury, Bede and historia - Emily Ward William of Malmesbury and the Britons - Emily A. Winkler Words, Words, Words, ... - Michael Winterbottom Epilogue: The Rediscovery of William of Malmesbury - R. M. Thomson
