God's Scribe : The Historiographical Art of Galbert of Bruges

Galbert of Bruges's De multro, traditione, et occisione gloriosi Karoli comitis Flandriarum is an eyewitness account of the assassination of Charles the Good, Count of Flanders, in 1127 and the ensuing civil war. This book forms a companion to the text which was discovered in the 15th century in Bruges and has subsequently been available in French translation. Jeff Rider argues that this is not a true journal but a revised and edited history of events between March 1127 and July 1128. He discusses how the chronicle developed, Galbert's sources, how he organised his notes and wrote his text and its literary qualities. This is a detailed study of an important piece of historical writing. One third of the book comprises notes and appendices. Scholars Have Long Considered The De Multro To Be A True Journal, Written Hastily As Events Unfolded And Never Revised. In God's Scribe, The First Book Devoted To Galbert And His Chronicle, Jeff Rider Challenges That View. He Argues That The De Multro Is Not The Transparent And Objective Testimony It Has Been Taken To Be; Rather It Is A Complex And Sophisticated Work Of Astonishing Originality That Is An Outstanding Example Of Medieval Historical Writing. Intended As A Companion Volume To The De Multro, The Book Provides An Outline Of The Flemish Crisis Of 1127-28 And Summarizes What Is Known About Galbert. It Traces The Elaboration Of The Multro From A Set Of Wax Notes To A Nearly Completed Chronicle. Rider Studies Galbert's Sources, The Way He Took And Organized His Notes, The Distinct Stages In Which The Chronicle Was Written, Its Literary Qualities, And The Conceptual Tools He Used To Comprehend The Events He Related In It. Rider Concludes That Galbert's Efforts To Understand An Extended Series Of Events In A Light Of The Theology Of History And Authority Common In His Day, And To Apply That Theology To The Practice Of Historical Writing, Made The De Multro One Of The Most Intellectual And Experimental Histories Of Its Time, While Its Style, Form, And Viewpoint Made It One Of The Most Popular Ones.--jacket. Jeff Rider. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 331-348) And Index. "Scholars have long considered the De multro to be a true journal, written hastily as events unfolded and never revised. In God's Scribe, the first book devoted to Galbert and his chronicle, Jeff Rider challenges that view. He argues that the De multro is not the transparent and objective testimony it has been taken to be; rather it is a complex and sophisticated work of astonishing originality that is an outstanding example of medieval historical writing.". "Intended as a companion volume to the De multro, the book provides an outline of the Flemish crisis of 1127-28 and summarizes what is known about Galbert. It traces the elaboration of the multro from a set of wax notes to a nearly completed chronicle. Rider studies Galbert's sources, the way he took and organized his notes, the distinct stages in which the chronicle was written, its literary qualities, and the conceptual tools he used to comprehend the events he related in it. Rider concludes that Galbert's efforts to understand an extended series of events in a light of the theology of history and authority common in his day, and to apply that theology to the practice of historical writing, made the De multro one of the most intellectual and experimental histories of its time, while its style, form, and viewpoint made it one of the most popular ones."--BOOK JACKET. Intended as a companion volume to the De multro (The Murder of Charles the Good), this book provides an outline of the Flemish crisis and summarizes what is known about Galbert of Bruges. It traces the elaboration of the De multro from a set of wax notes to a nearly completed chronicle. Rider studies Galbert's sources, the way he took and organized his notes, the distinct stages in which the chronicle was written, its literary qualities, and the conceptual tools he used to comprehend the events he related in it. Intended as a companion volume to the De multro, the book provides an outline of the Flemish crisis of 1127-28 and summarizes what is known about Galbert. It traces the elaboration of the De multro from a set of wax notes to a nearly completed chronicle.