A History of Anglo-Latin Literature, 597-1066. Volume 1: 597-740

Description

Taking as its chronological and geographical limits the period and area of Anglo-Saxon domination, this study provides a guide to the Latin literature that existed alongside the vernacular. It does so through a chronological survey of known works, based on a thorough examination of documents and of modern scholarship. It includes ample illustrative quotations, with accompanying English translations, and the forms associated with individual (although sometimes anonymous) writers, the histories, biographies, letters, poetry, treatises, and some liturgies. An important feature of the book is the very full bibliography, which is keyed to the text discussions. PREFACE v ABBREVIATIONS xiii INTRODUCTION: BRITISH LATIN BEFORE 597 3 The Roman Occupation 3 The British Church 8 "Epistola Vinisii" 12 Pelagius 13 Fastidius and Faustus 18 Patrick 21 Gildas 27 Columba and Columban 37 "Hisperica famina" 46 CHAPTER ONE: THE SEVENTH CENTURY 49 The Augustinian Mission 49 Theodore of Canterbury 58 Benedict Biscop 62 Wilfrid 66 Aldhelm 68 CHAPTER TWO: BEDE 101 Life 101 Exegetical Works 105 Hagiography 133 Chronology 145 Didactic Works 157 Homilies 166 Verses 167 History 169 Letters 181 Doubtful and Spurious Works 184 CHAPTER THREE: THE AGE OF BEDE 186 Aethilwald 186 "Vita antiquissima sancti Gregorii" 191 "Vita anonyma sancti Cuthberti" 196 Waldhere of London 197 Aelffled of Whi tby 199 Berhtwald of Canterbury 200 Acca of Hexham 202 Ceolfrid of Jarrow 204 "Historia abbatum anonyma" 209 Eddius Stephanus 210 Tatwine of Canterbury 215 Hwaetberht of Jarrow 219 Felix 223 BIBLIOGRAPHY 229 INDEX 295