Anglo-Latin Literature, 600-899: Anglo-Latin Literature, Vol 1, 600-899

The essays in the first volume are concerned with the earliest period of literary activity in England. Following a general essay which surveys the field as a whole, the essays begin with the arrival of Theodore and Hadrian in the late-7th century and with the establishment of their school at Canterbury, investigating the range of Greek and Latin learning which they brought to bear on the study of the Bible and other curriculum texts. The achievements of their student Aldhelm are also examined. Evidence is presented for the English origin of two other anonymous works from this period, the "Liber monstrorum" and an Isidorian florilegium called "De diversis rebus". The poetic achievement of Bede is seen in a new light, as is that of Aediluulf, an early ninth-century Northumbrian poet. Finally, two essays consider the evidence for books and learning in ninth-century England, a period which saw the interruption of scholarly activity in the face of Viking onslaughts, and the subsequent re-establishment of learning through the energies of King Alfred. Acknowledgements vii Illustrations ix Introduction xi Abbreviations xiii 1. Anglo-Latin Literature 1 2. Artistic and Literary Patronage in Anglo-Saxon England 37 3. The Career of Archbishop Theodore 93 4. The Study of Greek at the School of Canterbury in the Seventh Century 123 5. The School of Theodore and Hadrian 141 6. Old English Glossography: The Latin Context 169 7. An Isidorian Epitome from Early Anglo-Saxon England 183 8. Theodore and Anglo-Latin Octosyllabic Verse 225 9. Aldhelm’s Latin Poetry and Old English Verse 247 10. "Beowulf", Aldhelm, the "Liber Monstrorum" and Wessex 271 11. Bede the Poet 313 12. Bede’s Metrical "Vita S. Cuthberti" 339 13. Some Remnants of Bede’s Lost "Liber Epigrammatum" 357 14. Aediluulf and the School of York 381 15. Knowledge of the Poems of Venandus Fortunatus in Early Anglo-Saxon England 399 16. Latin Learning in Ninth-Century England 409 17. The Study of Latin Texts in Late Anglo-Saxon England 455 Additional Notes 499 Index 517 Index of Manuscripts 529 The Latin literature of Anglo-Saxon England remains poorly understood. No bibliography of the subject exists. No comprehensive and authoritative history of Anglo-Latin literature has ever been written. It is only in recent years, largely through the essays collected in the present volumes, that the outline and intrinsic interest of the field have been clarified. Indeed, until a comprehensive history of the period is written, these collected essays offer the only reliable guide to the subject. The essays in the first volume are concerned with the earliest period of literary activity in England. Following a general essay which surveys the field as a whole, the essays range from the arrival of Theodore and Hadrian, through Aldhelm and Bede, to Aediluulf. The essays in the first volume are concerned with the earliest period of literary activity in England. The arrival of Theodore and Hadrian in the late-7th century is examined along with the achievements of their student Aldhelm. The poetic achievements of Bede and Aediluulf are included. Michael Lapidge. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.