Description

Every medieval manuscript tells two stories: the literary tale written by the original author, and the physical history of the parchment itself as it passed through the hands of scribes, collectors, and quiet libraries. Manuscripts and Ghosts: Essays on the Transmission of Medieval Literature in England delivers an elite, intellectually thrilling look at the world of paleography and codicology.

This scholarly collection investigates the “ghosts” of the archival world—the lost texts known only through fragments, the mistakes made by sleepy monastic copyists that altered literary meaning, and the mysterious owners who left marginal notes in the borders of Middle English poems. Moving through detailed studies of iconic works and obscure fragments, the book illustrates how the physical realities of ink and vellum shaped the survival of our oldest literary traditions.

Essential insights for medievalists and paleographers:

• Advanced Textual Analysis: Explores the precise scientific and historical methods used to track text transmission and variant readings.

• Archival Detective Work: Investigates mysterious marginal notations, fragmented leaves, and lost manuscripts hidden within historical archives.

• Premier Scholarly Caliber: An invaluable reference work for university libraries, graduate researchers, and dedicated fans of medieval history.