The Cædmon Manuscript
The Beginnings of English Religious Poetry, I
By Bernard J. Muir
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About This Book
The Cædmon Manuscript is one of three extant anthologies of English Christian poetry produced in England before 1000 CE. It is formally known as Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Junius 11.
The Cædmon Manuscript was given this name in earlier critical literature because of its assumed association with the cowherd Cædmon, who miraculously received the gift of extemporaneous poetic creativity as described in Bede's Ecclesiastical History IV.24. Bede describes the subjects of the poems created by Cædmon, which corresponded closely to the content of this manuscript, leading earlier scholars to regard this anthology as a remarkable discovery of the earliest surviving religious literature from Anglo-Saxon England.
It is a collection of four religious poems in Old English based on Biblical materials. They have the editorial names Genesis, Exodus, Daniel and Christ and Satan. This edition consists of an Introduction, Bibliography, Codicological and Paleographical Analysis, an Art-Historical Commentary and an edition of the four poems.
Reviews
Bernard Muir's edition of Junius 11 offers an authoritative text based on careful scholarship. Beyond that, this edition provides complete paleographical notes, art-historical commentary, and a wealth of codicological data and analysis that will support a variety of research tracks for years to come — Susan E. Deskis, Professor of English, emerita, Northern Illinois University
An excellent companion to the Bodleian Library’s digitized Junius 11, The Cædmon Manuscript provides a foundational review of scholarship on the codex and an edition of its poetry that, with attention to scribal practices and precise notes, is invaluable for understanding the text as it is presented on the page— Janet Ericksen, Professor, University of Minnesota Morris
With its codicological and art-historical analyses and a presentation of the texts more closely reflecting scribal activity than in any preceding editions, Muir’s edition of this unique anthology is to be commended for setting the poems in their manuscript context in a way not previously achieved —Joyce Hill, Emeritus Professor, University of Leeds.
This is a admirably clear and careful edition of a major Old English poetic manuscript. Muir’s detailed textual presentation and meticulous attention to the manuscript makes this a useful and important addition to the literature on Junius 11— R.M. Liuzza, University of Tennessee–Knoxville
Muir’s edition of the so-called “Junius manuscript” offers a fresh addition to scholarship on this important poetic codex, and a vital companion to his earlier digital facsimile edition. Muir’s expert editorial eye ensures that these texts will long be appreciated as the earliest biblically derived poems in the English language— Samantha Zacher, Professor in the Department of Literatures in English at Cornell University.
The Cædmon manuscript is one of the most important witnesses of Old English literature, and Bernard Muir’s edition of it, alongside his invaluable commentary, is a very welcome contribution that furthers our understanding of the elusive literary culture at the very beginnings of English poetry— Tristan Major, Book Review Editor, The Journal of Medieval Latin, Canada
Another successful foray into the complex world of early medieval English manuscripts, Muir’s new edition of MS Junius 11 will become as indispensable as his other editions for years to come. He leaves no accent mark out, no scribal peculiarity unnoted. The book is a welcome contribution to the field —Robert E. Bjork, Foundation Professor of English, Arizona State University
Bernard Muir’s excellent new edition of the four Old English biblical poems preserved in Bodleian Library MS Junius 11 is the first to appear in print in nearly a century. Furnished with an up-to-date Introduction, textual notes and detailed art-historical commentary, this elegant volume will serve as the standard scholarly resource for many years to come — Francis Leneghan, Professor of Old English, University of Oxford.
An excellent Memorial Fund acquisition choice for community, college, and university library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist readers with an interest in Medieval Literature — Midwest Review
Author Information
Bernard J Muir has taught at The University of Melbourne for over forty years; he teaches Anglo-Saxon language and literature, Latin and vernacular manuscript studies and the History of the Book.
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Table of Contents
Foreword; Acknowledgements; Table of Contents; Introduction; Gathering Diagrams; Abbreviated References; Select Bibliography; Poem; Art-Historical Commentary
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