The Intellectual Foundations of the English Benedictine Reform (Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England, Series Number 25)

This book explores the foundations of the intellectual renaissance in late-tenth-century England, including both the English Benedictine reform and the establishment by Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester, of his influential school. The early stages of Æthelwold's scholarly career are explored and new light is shed on the role which King Æthelstan's cosmopolitan court played. Two widely influential Old English texts are definitively attributed to Æthelwold and his circle, which attest to the importance that the reformers attached to the vernacular. This Book Explores The Foundations Of The Intellectual Renaissance In Tenth-century England, Which Is Marked By The Benedictine Reform And The Establishment Of The Most Influential School In Late Anglo-saxon England By Aethelwold, Bishop Of Winchester (963-84). The Vital Early Stages Of Aethelwold's Scholarly Career Are Traced For The First Time, Particularly His Formative Years In King Aethelstan's (924-39) Entourage And His Period Of Study, Together With The New Benedictines, At Glastonbury. After Assessing A Wide Range Of Evidence From The Fields Of Philology, History, Liturgy, Textual Criticism, Palaeography And Art History, Mechthild Gretsch Definitively Assigns To Aethelwold And His Circle Two Influential Texts: An Interlinear Translation Of The Psalter And A Vast Corpus Of Old English Glosses To Aldhelm's Prose De Uirginitate. These Glosses Are Shown To Have Played A Pivotal Role In The Development Of English As A Medium For Scholarly Discourse. New Light Is Also Shed On The Contribution Which King Aethelstan's Cosmopolitan Court Culture Made To Intellectual And Spiritual Life In Late Anglo-saxon England.--book Jacket. Mechthild Gretsch. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book explores the foundations of the intellectual renaissance in tenth-century England, including both the English Benedictine reform and the establishment by Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester (963–84), of the most influential school in late Anglo-Saxon England. The vital early stages of Æthelwold's scholarly career are explored for the first time, particularly his formative years in King Æthelstan's entourage and his period of study at Glastonbury. Light is shed on the contribution which Æthelstan's cosmopolitan court made to intellectual and spiritual life. Based on a wide range of evidence Dr Gretsch assigns to Æthelwold two influential texts: an interlinear translation of the psalter and a vast corpus of Old English glosses to Aldhelm's prose De virginitate. These glosses are shown to have played a pivotal role in the development of the vernacular as a medium for scholarly discourse.