Marvel and Artefact: The 'wonders of the East' in Its Manuscript Contexts (Library of the Written Word / Library of the Written Word -)

"Marvel and Artefact examines the three surviving manuscripts of Wonders of the East (London, BL, Cotton Vitellius A. xv; London, BL, Cotton Tiberius B. v; and Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodley 614). After outlining the learned tradition of writing on monsters and marvels and the family of texts of which the Wonders of the East is part, A. J. Ford offers a forensic reading of each manuscript in which codex, text and image are studied together as a single artefact. By focussing on the materiality of manuscripts whose origin can only be hypothesized, this innovative and challenging work opens new vistas for the study and interpretation of medieval manuscripts and the cultures that produced them." -- Marvel And Artefact Examines The Three Surviving Manuscripts Of Wonders Of The East (london, Bl, Cotton Vitellius A. Xv; London, Bl, Cotton Tiberius B. V; And Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodley 614). After Outlining The Learned Tradition Of Writing On Monsters And Marvels And The Family Of Texts Of Which The Wonders Of The East Is Part, A.j. Ford Offers A Forensic Reading Of Each Manuscript In Which Codex, Text And Image Are Studied Together As A Single Artefact. By Focussing On The Materiality Of Manuscripts Whose Origin Can Only Be Hypothesized, This Innovative And Challenging Work Opens New Vistas For The Study And Interpretation Of Medieval Manuscripts And The Cultures That Produced Them.-- The Manifold Uses Of Things : The Early Medieval Book As Artefact -- The Wonders Of The East And The Leadned Tradition Of Marvels -- The Wonders In A Manuscript Of Unknown Origin : London, British Library, Cotton Vitellius A. Xv -- The Wonders And The Computus Manuscript : London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius B. V -- The Wonders And The Schools : Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodley 614 -- The Materiality Of Marvels. By A.j. Ford. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Marvel and Artefact examines the three surviving manuscripts of Wonders of the East (London, BL, Cotton Vitellius A. xv; London, BL, Cotton Tiberius B. v; and Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodley 614). After outlining the learned tradition of writing on monsters and marvels and the family of texts of which the Wonders of the East is part, A.J. Ford offers a forensic reading of each manuscript in which codex, text and image are studied together as a single artefact. By focussing on the materiality of manuscripts whose origin can only be hypothesized, this innovative and challenging work opens new vistas for the study and interpretation of medieval manuscripts and the cultures that produced them."-- Provided by publisher This book examines the three surviving manuscripts of ‘Wonders of the’ East (London, BL, Cotton Vitellius A. xv; London, BL, Cotton Tiberius B. v; and Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodley 614). After outlining the learned tradition of writing on monsters and marvels and the family of texts of which the ‘Wonders of the East' is part, A.J. Ford offers a forensic reading of each manuscript in which codex, text and image are studied together as a single artefact. By focussing on the materiality of manuscripts whose origin can only be hypothesized, this innovative and challenging work opens new vistas for the study and interpretation of medieval manuscripts and the cultures that produced them