Bestiary
Being an English Version of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS Bodley 764
Published on 1. January 1992
Book
Hardback
205 pages
978-0-85115-329-2 (ISBN)
Description
Bestiaries are particularly characteristic of medieval England, and give a unique insight into the medieval mind. Richly illuminated and lavishly produced, they were luxury objects for noble families. Their three-fold purpose wasto provide a natural history of birds, beasts and fishes, to draw moral examples from animal behaviour (the industrious bee, the stubborn ass), and to reveal a mystical meaning -the phoenix, for instance, as a symbol of Christ's resurrection. This Bestiary, MS. Bodley 764, was produced around the middle of the thirteenth century and is of singular beauty and interest. The 136 illuminations are reproduced in full colour to the same size and in the same place as the original manuscript, and the text, translated with wit and style from the original Latin, is fitted around them.
RICHARD BARBER's other books include Myths and Legends of the British Isles, Dictionary of Fabulous Beasts, Arthurian Legends: An Anthology and King Arthur: Heroand Legend.
RICHARD BARBER's other books include Myths and Legends of the British Isles, Dictionary of Fabulous Beasts, Arthurian Legends: An Anthology and King Arthur: Heroand Legend.
Reviews / Votes
A beautiful facsimile of an original which is now in the Bodleian Library and referred to simply as MS Bodley 764. It was produced during the first half of the 13th century; both artist and patron are unknown, but Barber's excellent translation from the Latin original makes for fascinating reading about beasts, real and imaginary, of the medieval world. EVENING STANDARD Beautifully reproduced, the illustrations are given their exact positions in the original Bodleian manuscript; the elegantly translated text is a mixture of medieval reality, Christian symbolic explanation and the literally fabulous. * COUNTRY LIFE *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Woodbridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
136 colour.
Dimensions
Height: 265 mm
Width: 170 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-85115-329-2 (9780851153292)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
01/1992
Boydell Press
€31.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
RICHARD BARBER has had a huge influence on the study of medieval history and literature, as both a writer and a publisher. His first book on the Arthurian legend appeared in 1961, and his major works include The Knight and Chivalry (winner of the Somerset Maugham Award in 1971), Edward Prince of Wales and Aquitaine, The Penguin Guide to Medieval Europe and The Holy Grail: the History of a Legend which was widely praised and was translated into six languages.
Content
Lion; lioness; tiger; panther; antelope; pard; unicorn; lynx; gryphon; elephant; beaver; ibex; hyena; bonnacon; ape; satyr; deer; tragelaphus; goat; wild goat; monoceros; bear; leucrota; crocodile; manticore; parander; fox; hare; chameleon; eale; wolf; dog; sheep; wether; lamb; kid; he-goat; sow; boar; bullock ox; buffalo; cow; calf; camel; ass; wild ass; dromedary; horse; mule; badger; cat; mouse; weasel; mole; dormouse; hedgehog; ant; frog; dea; eagle; barnacle; osprey; water-ouzel; coot; vulture; crane; parrot; charadrius; stork; heron; swan; ibis; ostrich; coot; jackdaw; halcyon; phoenix; cinnomolgus; harz bird; hoopoe; pelican; night-owl; screech-owl; sirens; partridge; magpie; sparrowhawk; hawk; bat; nightingale; raven; crow; dove; turtle-dove; swallow; quail; goose; peacock; screech-owl; hoopoe; cock; hen; duck; sparrow; kite; bee; perindens; serpent; dragon; basilisk; viper; asp; scitalis; amphisbaena; idrus; boas; iaculus; siren; seps; dipsa; lizard; salamander; saura; newt; snake; scorpion; horned serpent; worm; fish; whale; serra; dolphin.